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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Multiscale Sampling of a Heterogeneous Water/Metal Catalyst Interface using Density Functional Theory and Force-Field Molecular Dynamics
Published on: April 12, 2019
Ionic hydrogen bonds controlling two-dimensional supramolecular systems at a metal surface.
Dietmar Payer1, Alessio Comisso, Alexandre Dmitriev
1Max Planck Institut für Festkörperforschung, Heisenbergstrasse 1, 70563 Stuttgart, Germany.
Ionic adsorbates like trimesic acid (TMA) on silver surfaces form distinct structures via hydrogen bonds. At higher temperatures, deprotonation leads to stronger ionic hydrogen bonds, creating new 2D supramolecular arrangements.
Area of Science:
- Surface Science
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Understanding molecular self-assembly on surfaces is crucial for designing advanced materials.
- Hydrogen bonding plays a key role in organizing molecules into ordered structures.
- Ionic interactions can significantly influence supramolecular assembly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hydrogen-bond formation between ionic adsorbates on an Ag(111) surface.
- To characterize the self-assembly of 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (trimesic acid, TMA) under varying conditions.
- To explore the role of deprotonation in modifying supramolecular bonding motifs.
Main Methods:
- Scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS)
- X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
- Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS)
- Molecular dynamics calculations
Main Results:
- Trimesic acid (TMA) self-assembles into a honeycomb motif via neutral hydrogen bonds at 250-300 K.
- Annealing at 420 K induces deprotonation, forming a quartet structure with charged carboxylate groups.
- Ionic hydrogen bonds in the quartet structure exhibit enhanced strength compared to neutral bonds.
Conclusions:
- Deprotonation of TMA on Ag(111) leads to a distinct supramolecular structure driven by ionic hydrogen bonds.
- This study reveals an alternative bonding motif for 2D supramolecular organization.
- The findings contribute to understanding surface-mediated molecular assembly and bonding.
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