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Tuning Molecular Self‐Assembly on Bulk Insulator Surfaces by Anchoring of the Organic Building Blocks
Author(s) -
Rahe Philipp,
Kittelmann Markus,
Neff Julia L.,
Nimmrich Markus,
Reichling Michael,
Maass Philipp,
Kühnle Angelika
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201300604
Subject(s) - materials science , nanotechnology , anchoring , self assembly , dielectric , intermolecular force , molecular self assembly , molecule , chemical physics , insulator (electricity) , optoelectronics , chemistry , physics , structural engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
Molecular self‐assembly constitutes a versatile strategy for creating functional structures on surfaces. Tuning the subtle balance between intermolecular and molecule‐surface interactions allows structure formation to be tailored at the single‐molecule level. While metal surfaces usually exhibit interaction strengths in an energy range that favors molecular self‐assembly, dielectric surfaces having low surface energies often lack sufficient interactions with adsorbed molecules. As a consequence, application‐relevant, bulk insulating materials pose significant challenges when considering them as supporting substrates for molecular self‐assembly. Here, the current status of molecular self‐assembly on surfaces of wide‐bandgap dielectric crystals, investigated under ultrahigh vacuum conditions at room temperature, is reviewed. To address the major issues currently limiting the applicability of molecular self‐assembly principles in the case of dielectric surfaces, a systematic discussion of general strategies is provided for anchoring organic molecules to bulk insulating materials.