Bimolecular networks and supramolecular traps on Au(111)

We demonstrate the formation of intermixed phases and self assembled molecular templates on the Au(111) surface. The templates are stabilized by hydrogen bonding between melamine molecules with trigonal symmetry and linear PTCDI (perylene tetra-carboxylic di-imide) molecules. When annealed, these molecules spontaneously form either a chiral intermixed phase or a honeycomb arrangement in which vertexes and edges correspond respectively to melamine and PTCDI molecules. We also observe minority phases with more complex intermolecular junctions. The use of these networks as templates is demonstrated by the controlled capture of fullerenes within the pores of the network to form dimers, hexamers, and heptamers. Our results confirm that bimolecular templates can be realized on a range of substrates.