Dissociation of N on a Si(111)-7x7 Surface at Room Temperature.

We demonstrate that the strong N bond can be efficiently dissociated at low pressure and ambient temperature on a Si(111)-7x7 surface. The reaction was experimentally investigated by scanning tunnelling microscopy and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Experimental and density functional theory results suggest that relatively low thermal energy collision of N with the surface can facilitate electron transfer from the Si(111)-7x7 surface to the π*-antibonding orbitals of N that significantly weaken the N bond.

On-Surface Synthesis of Ligands to Elaborate Coordination Polymers on an Au(111) Surface.

On-surface metal-organic polymers have emerged as a class of promising 2D materials. Here, we propose a new strategy to obtain coordination polymers by transforming supramolecular networks into coordination polymers by surface-assisted cyclo-dehydrogenation of organic building blocks. All nanostructures are fully characterized by using scanning tunneling microscopy under ultra-high vacuum on a gold surface.

Unravelling the growth mechanism of (3,1) graphene nanoribbons on a Cu(111) surface.

The growth of graphene nanoribbons has been widely investigated on metal surfaces in an ultrahigh vacuum. Here, we re-investigate the growth of graphene nanoribbons obtained by thermal annealing of 9,9'-bianthryl derivatives on a Cu(111) surface by using scanning tunnelling microscopy. On the basis of our results, we propose to complete the reaction mechanism commonly accepted in the literature by adding an intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer from the 2,2'-positions to the 10,10'-positions as a key-step in the formation of (3,1)-graphene nanoribbons on a Cu(111) surface.

Collective radical oligomerisation induced by an STM tip on a silicon surface.

Over the past decade, on-surface fabrication of organic nanostructures has been widely investigated for the development of molecular electronic components, catalysts, and new materials. Here, we introduce a new strategy to obtain alkyl oligomers in a controlled manner using on-surface radical oligomerisations that are triggered by electrons between the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope and the Si(111)√3 ×√3 R30°-B surface. This electron transfer event only occurs when the bias voltage is below -4.

Large-extended 2D supramolecular network of dipoles with parallel arrangement on a Si(111)-B surface.

We have investigated the self-assembly of a strong dipolar molecule (LDipCC) on the semiconducting Si(111)-B surface with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), density functional theory (DFT) calculations and STM simulations. Although the formation of an extended two-dimensional network was clearly revealed by STM under ultra-high vacuum, the assignment of a specific STM signature to the different terminal groups from the LDipCC molecular unit required a complete analysis by numerical simulations. The overall observed assembly is explained in terms of STM contrasts associated with the molecular structure of LDipCC and the molecule-surface interactions.

Stable self-assembly of dipolar molecules on an Au(111) surface under UHV and an inert-atmosphere.

The growth of an extended supramolecular network using dipolar molecules as the building blocks is of great technological interest. We investigated the self-assembly of a dipolar molecule on an Au(111) surface. The formation of an extended two-dimensional network was demonstrated by scanning tunnelling microscopy under ultra-high vacuum and explained in terms of molecule-molecule interactions.

Controlled growth of a bicomponent supramolecular network by the sergeants & soldiers principle.

The co-deposition of 1,4-di(4',4''-pyridyl)benzene and 1,4-di(4',4''-bromophenyl)benzene on Si(111)-B surface leads to the formation of a highly regular self-assembly. The formation of this network has been investigated by STM and has been elucidated in the light of sergeants & soldiers principle due to halogen bonding on a silicon surface.

Towards 1D nanolines on a monolayered supramolecular network adsorbed on a silicon surface.

The growth of 3D extended periodic networks made up of π-conjugated molecules on semi-conductor surfaces is of interest for the integration of nano-components in the future generations of smart devices. In the work presented in this article, we successfully achieved the formation of bilayered networks on a silicon surface including 1D-isolated nanolines in the second layer. Firstly, we observed the formation of a 2D large-scale supramolecular network in the plane of a silicon surface through the deposition of tailored molecules.

Supramolecular self-assembly of brominated molecules on a silicon surface.

Hydrogen and halogen bonds have been associated for the growth of 2D compact supramolecular networks on a silicon surface. These interactions have been elucidated in a complete monolayer of a 4,4''-dibromo-p-terphenyl (DBT) molecule on a Si(111)-B surface by combining scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Anisotropic growth of the thiophene-based layer on Si(111)-B.

The formation of large assemblies on the Si(111)-B surface is discussed with the help of STM simulations and DFT calculations. Although highly regular assemblies of DTB10B along the Si row direction are observed, the existence of two herringbone isomers introduces a lower periodicity within the 2D molecular network. The formation of herringbone units is explained by weak intermolecular interactions while the 1D assembling depends mainly on the interactions of the C10 side chains with the Si(111)-B surface.

Seeding molecular rotators on a passivated silicon surface.

Thermally activated rotation of single molecules adsorbed on a silicon-based surface between 77 and 150 K has been successfully achieved. This remarkable phenomenon relies on a nanoporous supramolecular network, which acts as a template to seed periodic molecule rotors on the surface. Thermal activation of rotation has been demonstrated by STM experiments and confirmed by theoretical calculations.