Issue 7, 2018

Potential- and concentration-dependent self-assembly structures at solid/liquid interfaces

Abstract

We report the potential and concentration controlled assembly of an alkyl-substituted benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (DDBDT) on an Au(111) electrode by in situ electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (ECSTM). It is found that a lamellar structure is formed at low concentrations, while herringbone-like and rhombus structures are obtained at high concentrations. In situ STM results reveal that herringbone-like and rhombus structures could transform into lamellar structures when the electrode potential is tuned negatively. A phase diagram is obtained to illustrate the relationship and effects of concentration and substrate potential on the interfacial structures of DDBDT. Both the substrate potential and the solute concentration can modulate the self-assembly structure through changing the molecular surface density. The results provide important insights into the understanding and precise control of molecular self-assembly on solid surfaces through a combination of different approaches.

Graphical abstract: Potential- and concentration-dependent self-assembly structures at solid/liquid interfaces

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Nov 2017
Accepted
12 Jan 2018
First published
12 Jan 2018

Nanoscale, 2018,10, 3438-3443

Potential- and concentration-dependent self-assembly structures at solid/liquid interfaces

Z. Cai, H. Yan, D. Wang and L. Wan, Nanoscale, 2018, 10, 3438 DOI: 10.1039/C7NR08475G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements