π‑Conjugated Nickel Bis(dithiolene) Complex Nanosheet

Abstract

A π-conjugated nanosheet comprising planar nickel bis­(dithiolene) complexes was synthesized by a bottom-up method. A liquid–liquid interfacial reaction using benzenehexathiol in the organic phase and nickel­(II) acetate in the aqueous phase produced a semiconducting bulk material with a thickness of several micrometers. Powder X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the crystalline portion of the bulk material comprised a staggered stack of nanosheets. A single-layer nanosheet was successfully realized using a gas–liquid interfacial reaction. Atomic force microscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy confirmed that the π-conjugated nanosheet was single-layered. Modulation of the oxidation state of the nanosheet was possible using chemical redox reactions