Ordered structure constructed from C2-symmetric hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene linked with oligo(dimethylsiloxane)

Abstract

The preparation of sub-5-nm ordered structures is very important to the development of today's nanotechnology. Block molecules have the potential to form structures with significantly small characteristic dimensions. Herein two novel organic–inorganic block molecules composed of a hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC) core and two oligo(dimethylsiloxane) (ODMS) tails with C₂ symmetry are reported. A hierarchical lamello-columnar structure with a two-dimensional rectangular lattice where HBC cores adopt a tilted arrangement was obtained from their bulk self-assembly. The feature sizes are all below 5 nm and can be regulated via the number of ODMS chains. Sub-5-nm line structures were obtained through spin-coating of the block molecules onto silicon substrates modified with poly(dimethylsiloxane). As organic–inorganic hybrid materials, these block molecules may be further applied in sub-5-nm nanopatterning.