Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature02:54

Coordination Compounds and Nomenclature

In most main group element compounds, the valence electrons of the isolated atoms combine to form chemical bonds that satisfy the octet rule. For instance, the four valence electrons of carbon overlap with electrons from four hydrogen atoms to form CH4. The one valence electron leaves sodium and adds to the seven valence electrons of chlorine to form the ionic formula unit NaCl (Figure 1a). Transition metals do not normally bond in this fashion. They primarily form coordinate covalent bonds, a...
Valence Bond Theory02:42

Valence Bond Theory

Coordination compounds and complexes exhibit different colors, geometries, and magnetic behavior, depending on the metal atom/ion and ligands from which they are composed. In an attempt to explain the bonding and structure of coordination complexes, Linus Pauling proposed the valence bond theory, or VBT, using the concepts of hybridization and the overlapping of the atomic orbitals. According to VBT, the central metal atom or ion (Lewis acid) hybridizes to provide empty orbitals of suitable...
Coordination Number and Geometry02:57

Coordination Number and Geometry

For transition metal complexes, the coordination number determines the geometry around the central metal ion. Table 1 compares coordination numbers to molecular geometry. The most common structures of the complexes in coordination compounds are octahedral, tetrahedral, and square planar.
Structural Isomerism02:34

Structural Isomerism

Isomerism in Complexes
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
Metal-Ligand Bonds02:51

Metal-Ligand Bonds

The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Stereoisomerism02:52

Stereoisomerism

Isomerism in Complexes
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula.
Transition metal complexes often exist as geometric isomers, in which the same atoms are connected through the same types of bonds but with differences in their orientation in space. Coordination complexes with two different ligands in the cis and trans positions from a ligand of interest form isomers. For example, the octahedral [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ ion has two isomers (Figure 1) In the cis...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Topological suppression of quantum tunnelling in a lanthanide single-ion molecular magnet.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Atomically Precise Bismuth Oxido Nanoclusters as Hosts for Ln<sup>3+</sup>: Effects of Doping on Optical and Magnetic Properties of a Soluble Metal Oxide.

Inorganic chemistry·2026
Same author

Exploring the third dimension in quantum confinement of surface electrons.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Unconventional Nuclear-Spin-Dependent Toroidal Ground States in Isotopologue <sup>A</sup>Dy<sub>4</sub> [2 × 2] Complexes.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

Contrasting single-molecule magnet behaviour in dysprosium and terbium bis(stannolediide) complexes.

Nature chemistry·2026
Same author

A High Energy Barrier Dy<sup>III</sup> <sub>2</sub> Single-Molecule Magnet Supported by a Bulky, Anionic N-O Bridging Ligand.

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates
06:35

Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates

Published on: February 15, 2016

Surface-confined supramolecular coordination chemistry.

Nian Lin1, Sebastian Stepanow, Mario Ruben

  • 1Department of Physics, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, P.R. China, phnlin@ust.hk.

Topics in Current Chemistry
|April 23, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Surface-confined supramolecular chemistry enables the precise assembly of metal-containing nanostructures. Understanding molecule-surface interactions is key to designing functional nanomaterials for advanced applications.

More Related Videos

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
09:26

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Published on: April 22, 2016

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly
09:34

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly

Published on: February 6, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 12, 2026

Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates
06:35

Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates

Published on: February 15, 2016

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids
09:26

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Published on: April 22, 2016

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly
09:34

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly

Published on: February 6, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Surface science
  • Supramolecular chemistry
  • Nanomaterials science

Background:

  • Non-covalent synthesis of coordination compounds is crucial for creating metal-containing supermolecules and nanostructured materials.
  • Organizing these materials on well-defined substrates is vital for nanoscale functional systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss principles of surface-confined supramolecular chemistry.
  • To highlight self-assembly protocols on atomic lattices and template-induced organization of metallosupramolecular species.
  • To elucidate molecular arrangements and interactions on metal and graphite surfaces.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) for direct insight into low-dimensional coordination systems.
  • Investigating self-assembly of molecular ligands directed by metal centers on surfaces.
  • Studying template-induced organization of pre-formed metallosupramolecular species.
  • Analyzing adsorbate-substrate and intermolecular interactions on low-index metal and graphite surfaces.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated molecular-level control over the arrangement of organic adsorbates and transition metal adatoms.
  • Revealed the critical interplay between molecule-adatom, intermolecular, and adsorbate-substrate interactions.
  • Showcased the fabrication of low-dimensional nanostructures through balanced interactions.
  • Presented exemplary studies on metal and graphite surfaces.

Conclusions:

  • Control over metal-ligand interactions and supramolecular organization on surfaces is decisive for designing functional architectures.
  • Realized metallosupramolecular compounds and arrays exhibit versatile structural characteristics and functional properties (redox, magnetic, spin-state, electronic transitions).
  • Surface-confined supramolecular chemistry offers a pathway to advanced functional nanomaterials.