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Updated: Mar 12, 2026

Synthesis of Information-bearing Peptoids and their Sequence-directed Dynamic Covalent Self-assembly
Published on: February 6, 2020
Selection of conformational states in surface self-assembly for a molecule with eight possible pairs of surface
A Nuermaimaiti1, V S-Falk1, J L Cramer1
1Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark. trolle@inano.au.dk.
Abstract:
Self-assembly of a molecule with many distinct conformational states, resulting in eight possible pairs of surface enantiomers, is investigated on a Au(111) surface under UHV conditions. The complex molecule is equipped with alkyl and carboxyl moieties to promote controlled self-assembly of lamellae structures. From statistical analysis of Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM) data we observe a clear selection of specific conformational states after self-assembly. Using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations we rationalise how this selection is correlated to the orientation of the alkyl moieties in mirror-image domains of the lamellae structures, leading to selection of three out of the eight possible enantiomeric pairs.
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