Switching of supramolecular nanostructures at the solid-liquid interface: interplay of bias polarity and solution concentration.

ABSTRACT: The self-assembly of a carboxy-functionalized triarylamine derivative (CTA) at the nonanoic acid-highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (NA-HOPG) interface is investigated using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). The study reveals that CTA molecules can self-assemble into diverse two-dimensional long-range ordered networks at the NA-HOPG interface, with their formation influenced by the concentration of the solution and the bias voltage of the STM tip. Moreover, reversible switching between the porous structures and the close-packed structure is induced by changing the bias polarity. We identify that for this phenomenon to occur the negatively polarised O atoms of the carboxylic groups of CTA play an important role, enabling the CTA molecules at the interface to desorb and re-adsorb which i

SUBMITTER: Jia B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12208213 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature