Growth of Two-Dimensional C₆₀ Nanoclusters within a Propylthiolate Matrix

Abstract

Where a licence is displayed above, please note the terms and conditions of the licence govern your use of this document. When citing, please reference the published version. Take down policy While the University of Birmingham exercises care and attention in making items available there are rare occasions when an item has been uploaded in error or has been deemed to be commercially or otherwise sensitive.

Two-Dimensional van der Waals Supramolecular Frameworks from Co-Hosted Molecular Assembly and C60 Dimerization

“…As a result of cooperative interaction between C 60 and OT, the porous framework is formed. In an earlier study with propanethiol monolayers on Au(111), we found phase-separated C 60 and PT with no evidence of forming C 60 /PT frameworks . This suggests that the van der Waals interactions between the alkane chain and the C 60 molecule play a vital role in the C 60 /OT framework.…”

“…In an earlier study with propanethiol monolayers on Au(111), we found phaseseparated C 60 and PT with no evidence of forming C 60 /PT frameworks. 15 This suggests that the van der Waals interactions between the alkane chain and the C 60 molecule play a vital role in the C 60 /OT framework. The S−Au bonding alone is not sufficient to stabilize the porous framework.…”

“…Previous works on this system revealed phase separated C 60 and thiols on Au(111) and also implied that the thiols coverage is a critical parameter for the structure formation of this binary molecular networks. 14,15 However, when the correct C 60 /thiol ratio is used, regular porous framework can be formed with the nanopores filled with OT. Instead of having a prefabricated porous framework made of host molecules and then filling the pore with guest molecules, the porous framework in the present case is a result of cooperative selforganization with the C 60 molecule and OT as cohosts of the framework.…”

Orientational Growth of Flexible van der Waals Supramolecular Networks

“…This is due to the tendency of vdW forces to guide the molecules toward a close packed arrangement at the nanoscale. [34] Hence, control over a binary molecular self-assembly system, solely reliant on vdW forces, presents significant challenges. [42,43] In an earlier study, when C 60 was deposited onto octanethiol/ Au(111), spontaneous formation of porous frameworks was observed at RT.…”

“…[32] Earlier studies on this system unveiled phase-separated C 60 and thiols on Au(111) with no signs of a regular mixture. [33][34][35] A saturated octanethiol (OT) monolayer [33] can prevent C 60 molecules from reaching the Au(111) substrate except at locations of defects. On a propylthiol monolayer, C 60 forms close-packed domains even at 100 K with clear phase-separated domains of C 60 and thiol at RT.…”