Adsorption of Aromatic and Anti-Aromatic Systems on Graphene through π−π Stacking

The adsorption of neutral (poly)-aromatic, antiaromatic, and more generally π-conjugated systems on graphene is studied as a prototypical case of π−π stacking. To account for dispersive interactions, we compare the recent van der Waals density functional (vdw-DF) with three semiempirical corrections to density functional theory and two empirical force fields. The adsorption energies of the molecules binding to graphene predicted by the vdw-DF were found to be in excellent agreement with temperature desorption experiments reported in literature, whereas the results of the remaining functionals and force fields only preserve the correct trends. The comparison of the dispersive versus electrostatic contributions to the total binding energies in the aromatic and antiaromatic systems suggests that π−π interactions can be regarded as being prevalently dispersive in nature at large separations, whereas close to the equilibrium bonding distance, it is a complex interplay between dispersive and electrostatic Coulombic interactions. Moreover our results surprisingly indicate that the magnitude of π−π interactions normalized both per number of total atoms and carbon atoms increases significantly with the relative number of hydrogen atoms in the studied systems

Topological Dynamics in Supramolecular Rotors

Artificial molecular switches, rotors, and machines are set to establish design rules and applications beyond their biological counterparts. Herein we exemplify the role of noncovalent interactions and transient rearrangements in the complex behavior of supramolecular rotors caged in a 2D metal–organic coordination network. Combined scanning tunneling microscopy experiments and molecular dynamics modeling of a supramolecular rotor with respective rotation rates matching with 0.2 kcal mol^–1 (9 meV) precision, identify key steps in collective rotation events and reconfigurations. We notably reveal that stereoisomerization of the chiral trimeric units entails topological isomerization whereas rotation occurs in a topology conserving, two-step asynchronous process. In supramolecular constructs, distinct displacements of subunits occur inducing a markedly lower rotation barrier as compared to synchronous mechanisms of rigid rotors. Moreover, the chemical environment can be instructed to control the system dynamics. Our observations allow for a definition of mechanical cooperativity based on a significant reduction of free energy barriers in supramolecules compared to rigid molecules

Two-Level Spatial Modulation of Vibronic Conductance in Conjugated Oligophenylenes on Boron Nitride

Intramolecular current-induced vibronic excitations are reported in highly ordered monolayers of quaterphenylene dicarbonitriles at an electronically patterned boron nitride on copper platform (BN/Cu(111)). A first level of spatially modulated conductance at the nanometer-scale is induced by the substrate. Moreover, a second level of conductance variations at the molecular level is found. Low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy studies in conjunction with molecular dynamics calculations reveal collective amplification of the molecule’s interphenylene torsion angles in the monolayer. Librational modes influencing these torsion angles are identified as initial excitations during vibronic conductance. Density functional theory is used to map phenylene breathing modes and other vibrational excitations that are suggested to be at the origin of the submolecular features during vibronic conductance

Hydrogenation of Hexa-<i>peri</i>-hexabenzocoronene: An Entry to Nanographanes and Nanodiamonds

The fabrication of atomically precise nanographanes is a largely unexplored frontier in carbon-sp3 nanomaterials, enabling potential applications in phononics, photonics and electronics. One strategy is the hydrogenation of prototypical nanographene monolayers and multilayers under vacuum conditions. Here, we study the interaction of atomic hydrogen, generated by a hydrogen source and hydrogen plasma, with hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene on gold using integrated time-of-flight mass spectrometry, scanning tunneling microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Density functional tight-binding molecular dynamics is employed to rationalize the conversion to sp3 carbon atoms. The resulting hydrogenation of hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene molecules is demonstrated computationally and experimentally, and the potential for atomically precise hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene-derived nanodiamond fabrication is proposed

Hydrogenation of Hexa-<i>peri</i>-hexabenzocoronene: An Entry to Nanographanes and Nanodiamonds

The fabrication of atomically precise nanographanes is a largely unexplored frontier in carbon-sp3 nanomaterials, enabling potential applications in phononics, photonics and electronics. One strategy is the hydrogenation of prototypical nanographene monolayers and multilayers under vacuum conditions. Here, we study the interaction of atomic hydrogen, generated by a hydrogen source and hydrogen plasma, with hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene on gold using integrated time-of-flight mass spectrometry, scanning tunneling microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Density functional tight-binding molecular dynamics is employed to rationalize the conversion to sp3 carbon atoms. The resulting hydrogenation of hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene molecules is demonstrated computationally and experimentally, and the potential for atomically precise hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene-derived nanodiamond fabrication is proposed

Three-Dimensional Bicomponent Supramolecular Nanoporous Self-Assembly on a Hybrid All-Carbon Atomically Flat and Transparent Platform

Molecular self-assembly is a versatile nanofabrication technique with atomic precision en route to molecule-based electronic components and devices. Here, we demonstrate a three-dimensional, bicomponent supramolecular network architecture on an all-carbon sp²–sp³ transparent platform. The substrate consists of hydrogenated diamond decorated with a monolayer graphene sheet. The pertaining bilayer assembly of a melamine–naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide supramolecular network exhibiting a nanoporous honeycomb structure is explored via scanning tunneling microscopy initially at the solution-highly oriented pyrolytic graphite interface. On both graphene-terminated copper and an atomically flat graphene/diamond hybrid substrate, an assembly protocol is demonstrated yielding similar supramolecular networks with long-range order. Our results suggest that hybrid platforms, (supramolecular) chemistry and thermodynamic growth protocols can be merged for in situ molecular device fabrication

Emergence of Photoswitchable States in a Graphene–Azobenzene–Au Platform

The perfect transmission of charge carriers through potential barriers in graphene (Klein tunneling) is a direct consequence of the Dirac equation that governs the low-energy carrier dynamics. As a result, localized states do not exist in unpatterned graphene, but quasibound states <i>can</i> occur for potentials with closed integrable dynamics. Here, we report the observation of resonance states in photoswitchable self-assembled molecular­(SAM)-graphene hybrid. Conductive AFM measurements performed at room temperature reveal strong current resonances, the strength of which can be reversibly gated <i>on</i>- and <i>off</i>- by optically switching the molecular conformation of the mSAM. Comparisons of the voltage separation between current resonances (∼70–120 mV) with solutions of the Dirac equation indicate that the radius of the gating potential is ∼7 ± 2 nm with a strength ≥0.5 eV. Our results and methods might provide a route toward <i>optically programmable</i> carrier dynamics and transport in graphene nanomaterials

Photoinduced C–C Reactions on Insulators toward Photolithography of Graphene Nanoarchitectures

On-surface chemistry for atomically precise sp² macromolecules requires top-down lithographic methods on insulating surfaces in order to pattern the long-range complex architectures needed by the semiconductor industry. Here, we fabricate sp²-carbon nanometer-thin films on insulators and under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions from photocoupled brominated precursors. We reveal that covalent coupling is initiated by C–Br bond cleavage through photon energies exceeding 4.4 eV, as monitored by laser desorption ionization (LDI) mass spectrometry (MS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Density functional theory (DFT) gives insight into the mechanisms of C–Br scission and C–C coupling processes. Further, unreacted material can be sublimed and the coupled sp²-carbon precursors can be graphitized by e-beam treatment at 500 °C, demonstrating promising applications in photolithography of graphene nanoarchitectures. Our results present UV-induced reactions on insulators for the formation of all sp²-carbon architectures, thereby converging top-down lithography and bottom-up on-surface chemistry into technology