Confinement effects on the self-assembly behaviour of an amphiphilic quinonoid zwitterion at the liquid-solid...

Supramolecular self-assembly on surfaces enables tailored interfaces with applications in nanotechnology. While factors like temperature and solute concentration influence self-assembled molecular networks (SAMNs), the role of spatial confinement remains less explored. Here, we investigate the self-assembly of an alkylated quinonoid zwitterion (QZ-C16) at the liquid-solid interface using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), both in in situ as well as ex situ nanocorrals. Engineered nanocorrals not only provide a confined environment for molecular assembly, but also serve as platforms for probing the impact of geometric constraints on self-assembly behaviour. Understanding the intricate dynamics of self-assembly at the nanoscale, particularly the mechanisms by which confinement influences structural organisation, can inform strategies for achieving desired molecular architectures.