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Competing thermodynamic and dynamic factors select molecular assemblies on a gold surface
T.K. Haxton, H. Zho, I. Tamblyn, D. Eom, Z. Hu, J.B. Neaton, T.F. Heinz, and S. Whitelam Physical Review Letters, 111, 265701 (2013) This work combines experimental scanning tunneling microscopy with computational modeling to examine the self-assembly of benzenediamine molecules on gold (111) surfaces. The study reveals that apparently straightforward nanostructures emerge from an intricate interplay between thermodynamic and kinetic factors. At low temperature, the interplay of intermolecular forces, surface modulation, and assembly dynamics selects a particular subset of possible structures. Specifically, two distinct types of molecular chains form: linear arrangements with low free energy and branched configurations with high free energy, both stabilized through hydrogen bonding interactions. The research demonstrates that understanding nanoscale molecular assembly requires considering both thermodynamic favorability and the dynamic processes governing molecular organization on surfaces. |
