Concentration‐Controlled Reversible Phase Transitions in Self‐Assembled Monolayers on HOPG Surfaces |
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Authors: | Xueli Shen Xiaodong Wei Pengli Tan Yingguo Yu Biao Yang Zhongmiao Gong Haiming Zhang Haiping Lin Youyong Li Qing Li Yongshu Xie Lifeng Chi |
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Affiliation: | 1. Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China;2. Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Institute of Fine Chemicals, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, P. R. China |
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Abstract: | Rational control of molecular ordering on surfaces and interfaces is vital in supramolecular chemistry and nanoscience. Here, a systematic scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study for controlling the self‐assembly behavior of alkoxylated benzene (B‐OCn) molecules on a HOPG surface is presented. Three different phases have been observed and, of great importance, they can transform to each other by modifying the solute concentration. Further studies, particularly in situ diluting and concentrating experiments, demonstrate that the transitions among the three phases are highly controllable and reversible, and are driven thermodynamically. In addition, it is found that concentration‐controlled reversible phase transitions are general for different chain lengths of B‐OCn molecules. Such controllable and reversible phase transitions may have potential applications in the building of desirable functional organic thin films and provide a new understanding in thermodynamically driven self‐assembly of organic molecules on surfaces and interfaces. |
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Keywords: | self‐assembly scanning tunneling microscopy phase transitions liquid– solid interfaces |
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