Coverage-modulated halogen bond geometry transformation in supramolecular assemblies

Halogen bonding (HB) has emerged as a promising route for designing supramolecular assemblies due to its directional nature and versatility in modifying interactions through the choice of halogens and molecular entities. Despite this, methods for tuning these interactions on surfaces, particularly in terms of directionality, are limited. In this study, we present a strategy for tuning the directionality of self-assembly processes in homomolecular organic compounds on inert metal surfaces. A variety of halogen-halogen geometries can promote highly-extended one-dimensional or two-dimensional self-assembly depending on the molecular coverage. Our results indicate that under lower molecular coverage conditions, robust one-dimensional (1D) structures promote the self-assembly of halogen-bonded molecules on Au(111). At certain coverage, a transformation from type-I to synthon halogen bonding is observed, leading to an extended hexagonal pattern of molecular assembly. The atomistic details of the structures are experimentally studied using high-resolution atomic force microscopy and supported by first-principle calculations. We employed DFT to evaluate the interplay between electrostatics and dispersion forces driving both type-I and synthon assemblies. The results reveal a halogen-bond geometry transformation induced by a subtle balance of molecule-molecule interaction. Finally, we investigate the capability of the halogen-bonded supramolecular assembly to periodically confine electronic quantum states and single atoms. Our findings demonstrate the versatility of sigma-bonding in regulating molecular assembly and provide new insights for tailoring functional molecular structures on an inert metal substrate.