Unraveling the nanostructure of supramolecular assemblies of hydrogen-bonded rosettes on graphite: an atomic force microscopy study

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Apr 16;99(8):5024-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.072685399. Epub 2002 Apr 2.

Abstract

The self-organization of multicomponent tetrarosette assemblies into ordered nanostructures on graphite surfaces has been studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Real-space information on the level of individual molecules allowed us to analyze the underlying structure in unprecedented detail. In highly ordered nanorod domains, tetrarosettes 1(3) x (DEB)(12) arrange in the form of parallel rows with a spacing of 4.6 +/- 0.1 nm. High resolution AFM revealed the internal packing of the tetrarosette assemblies in these rows, which can be described by an oblique lattice with a = 2.5 +/- 0.3 nm, b = 5.0 +/- 0.1 nm, and gamma = 122 +/- 3 degrees. The results, together with recent improvements in synthetic approaches, contribute to the development of a general strategy to develop H-bonding-based nanostructures with molecular precision.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen Bonding*
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force / methods*
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nanotechnology

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Graphite