Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2025

Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
Structure transformation from Sierpiński triangles to chains assisted by gas molecules
Chao Li1,2, Zhen Xu1, Yajie Zhang1
1Center for Carbon-based Electronics and Key Laboratory for the Physics and Chemistry of Nanodevices, School of Electronics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Abstract:
Reversible transformations between fractals and periodic structures are of fundamental importance for understanding the formation mechanism of fractals. Currently, it is still a challenge to controllably achieve such a transformation. We investigate the effect of CO and CO2 molecules on Sierpiński triangles (STs) assembled from Fe atoms and 4,4″-dicyano-1,1':3',1″-terphenyl (C3PC) molecules on Au surfaces. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we discover that the gas molecules induce a transition from STs into 1D chains. Based on density functional theory modeling, we propose that the atomistic mechanism involves the transformation of a stable 3-fold coordination Fe(C3PC)3 motif to Fe(C3PC)4 with an axially bonded CO molecule. CO2 causes the structural transformation through a molecular catassembly process.
More Related Videos
09:22Self-assembling Morphologies Obtained from Helical Polycarbodiimide Copolymers and Their Triazole Derivatives
Published on: February 7, 2017
06:35Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates
Published on: February 15, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Chain Branching
Thermal Sigmatropic Reactions: Overview
Sigmatropic shifts are classified based on an order term [i, j ], where i and j indicate the number of atoms across which each end of the σ bond migrates. Below are examples of a [3,3] sigmatropic shift in...
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals II
Fischer Projections
Radical Chain-Growth Polymerization: Mechanism