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Molecular Design and Control Over the Morphology of Self‐Assembled Films on Ionic Substrates
Author(s) -
Amrous Ania,
Bocquet Franck,
y Laurent,
Para Franck,
Loppacher Christian,
Lamare Simon,
Palmino Frank,
Cherioux Fréderic,
Gao David Z.,
Canova Filippo Federici,
Watkins Matthew B.,
Shluger Alexander L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
advanced materials interfaces
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.671
H-Index - 65
ISSN - 2196-7350
DOI - 10.1002/admi.201400414
Subject(s) - materials science , molecule , dewetting , density functional theory , ionic bonding , chemical physics , substrate (aquarium) , lattice constant , rubidium , porosity , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , potassium , thin film , ion , computational chemistry , diffraction , organic chemistry , chemistry , composite material , oceanography , physics , engineering , geology , optics , metallurgy
Achieving control over formation of molecular films on insulating substrates is important for designing novel 2D functional materials and devices. To study the main factors governing successful control, organic molecules with interchangeable polar functional groups, a variable length aromatic body, and flexible hydrocarbon chains are designed, synthesized and then deposited on the (001) surfaces of bulk sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and rubidium chloride. The deposited structures are imaged using noncontact atomic force microscopy and modeled using density functional theory. The results show that it is possible to form large‐scale, highly ordered, 2D, porous molecular domains (>10 4 pores), which are stable at room temperature, and to control the size of the 2D pores. Alternatively, it is possible to form line structures or droplets (through molecular dewetting) by altering the molecular structure or changing the substrate lattice constant. Theoretical calculations explain the balance of the molecule–molecule and molecule–surface interactions and the structure and thermodynamic stability of the grown films.