Negatively Curved Warped Nanographene Self-Assembled on Metal Surfaces

We report the investigation of a conjugated polycyclic hydrocarbon containing multiple nonbenzenoid rings and exhibiting negative curvature-the warped nanographene C₈₀H₃₀-adsorbed on several noble metal surfaces in an ultrahigh vacuum environment. From a detailed analysis of the molecular self-assembly at different molecular coverages via scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy measurements in combination with theoretical modeling, the nature of the intermolecular interactions is unraveled. For high molecular coverages on Cu(111), the formation of homochiral porous networks is observed, which is rationalized by (i) intermolecular π-π interactions between neighboring C₈₀H₃₀ molecules that promote the formation of molecular dimers and (ii) enantioselective intermolecular CH···π interactions between the dimers. Such interactions are also observed after deposition of C₈₀H₃₀ molecules on Au(111) and Ag(111) substrates. Our results provide perspectives for the on-surface study of negatively curved nanographenes which open new avenues to the design of novel and functional chiral structures with potential use in the field of organic optoelectronics.