Self-Assembly under Confinement: Nanocorrals for Understanding Fundamentals of 2D Crystallization

Nanocorrals with different size, shape, andorientation are created on covalently modified highlyoriented pyrolytic graphite surfaces using scanning probenanolithography, i.e., nanoshaving. Alkylated diacetylenemolecules undergo laterally confined supramolecular selfassemblywithin these corrals. When nanoshaving isperformed in situ, at the liquid−solid interface, theorientation of the supramolecular lamellae structure isdirectionally influenced by the gradual graphite surfaceexposure. Careful choice of the nanoshaving direction withrespect to the substrate symmetry axes promotes alignmentof the supramolecular lamellae within the corral. Selfassemblyoccurring inside corrals of different size and shape reveals the importance of geometric and kinetic constraintscontrolled by the nanoshaving process. Finally, seed-mediated crystallization studies demonstrate confinement control over nucleation and growth principles.

Jaar van publicatie:2016