Nanoporous molecular networks at the liquid-solid interface.

The formation of functionalized surfaces with periodicities on the nanometer scale (1 to 5 nm) attracts a lot of interest. Molecules are ideal building blocks for the formation of such well-organized and functional surfaces via self-assembly as they are tunable in size, shape and functionality. Supramolecular chemistry has taught us how to exploit non-covalent bonds to make well-defined structures involving many molecules. Van der Waals interactions, hydrogen bonding and metal coordination are the most important modes of interaction for the formation of such self-assembled architectures on surfaces. Most often, competitive interactions play simultaneously and the successful outcome of the self-assembly process requires not only balnced intermolecular interactions, but also favorable molecule-substrate interactions. This project focuses on the study of the formation of twe-dimensional nanoporous molecular networks on atomically-flat conductive substrates and the guest selectivity of these nanofilters.

Keywords:Scanning tunneling microscopy, Self-assembled-monolayer, Self-assembly, Supramolecular chemistry, Gold, Nanoporous

Disciplines:Organic chemistry, Analytical chemistry, Macromolecular and materials chemistry