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Kinked row-induced chirality driven by molecule-substrate interactions.

Sergii Snegir1, Yannick J Dappe, Oleksiy L Kapitanchuk

  • 1Sorbonne Université, Faculté des Sciences, CNRS, Institut des Nano-Sciences de Paris (INSP), 4 pl Jussieu 75005 Paris, France. emmanuelle.lacaze@insp.jussieu.fr.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Self-assembly of 4-cyano-4'-n-decylbiphenyl (10CB) molecules forms kinked rows on various substrates. Molecular interactions and steric effects dictate structure and chirality, with strong substrate interactions enhancing kink-induced chirality.

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Area of Science:

  • Surface Science
  • Materials Chemistry
  • Computational Chemistry

Background:

  • The self-assembly of organic molecules on surfaces is crucial for designing novel materials.
  • Understanding molecular interactions at the nanoscale dictates emergent structural properties.
  • 4-cyano-4'-n-decylbiphenyl (10CB) is a model molecule with a significant dipole moment, suitable for studying self-assembly mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the origin of kinked row structures formed by 10CB molecules on different substrates.
  • To elucidate the relationship between molecular structure, chirality, and molecule-substrate interactions.
  • To investigate the influence of intermolecular forces and steric hindrance on self-assembly.

Main Methods:

  • Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) measurements on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and gold (Au[111]) substrates.
  • Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to model molecular interactions.
  • Application of a phenomenological model to analyze self-assembly behavior.

Main Results:

  • Local ordering is driven by alkyl chain/substrate interactions on HOPG and Au[111], and by the cyanobiphenyl group/substrate interaction on MoS2.
  • Strongest molecule/substrate interactions observed for MoS2 and Au[111], which would typically favor non-kinked structures.
  • Steric interactions between cyanobiphenyl groups induce a fan-shape packing, preventing commensurate structures and leading to significant kink-induced chirality, especially on MoS2 and Au[111].
  • A further symmetry breaking on Au[111] arises from balanced alkyl chain and cyanobiphenyl group interactions with the substrate.

Conclusions:

  • The interplay between molecule-substrate interactions and steric effects governs the formation of kinked structures and chirality in 10CB self-assembly.
  • MoS2 and Au[111] substrates promote stronger interactions, leading to enhanced kink-induced chirality due to steric constraints.
  • The study provides insights into designing molecular self-assembly for controlled nanoscale structures and chiral properties.