Dysprosium-directed metallosupramolecular network on graphene/Ir(111)

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemistry
• Surface Science

Background:

• Lanthanide-based two-dimensional coordination networks are of interest for their unique properties.
• Electronic decoupling of these networks from metallic surfaces is crucial for advancing the field.
• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer tunable properties for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the formation of dysprosium-directed metal-organic networks on weakly interacting substrates.
• To explore the electronic decoupling of f-block element-based architectures from surfaces.
• To establish a foundation for lanthanide coordination networks on graphene and related materials.

Main Methods:

• Utilized three-fold ligands with terminal carbonitrile groups as molecular linkers.
• Synthesized dysprosium-directed networks on Au(111) and graphene/Ir(111) surfaces.
• Characterized the resulting coordination networks using surface science techniques.

Main Results:

• Observed identical quasi-hexagonal dysprosium-carbonitrile coordination networks on both Au(111) and graphene/Ir(111).
• Identified majority five-fold nodes within the observed network structures.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of forming these networks on weakly interacting substrates.

Conclusions:

• Dysprosium-directed metal-organic networks can be successfully formed on both Au(111) and graphene/Ir(111).
• The formation of these networks is substrate-independent on weakly interacting surfaces.
• Findings pave the way for lanthanide coordination networks on graphene and sp2 materials for advanced electronic applications.