Self-assembled aggregates formed by single-molecule magnets on a gold surface

Nat Commun. 2010 Sep 21:1:75. doi: 10.1038/ncomms1075.

Abstract

The spontaneous ordering of molecules into two-dimensional self-assembled arrays is commonly stabilized by directional intermolecular interactions that may be promoted by the addition of specific chemical side groups to a molecule. In this paper, we show that self-assembly may also be driven by anisotropic interactions that arise from the three-dimensional shape of a complex molecule. We study the molecule Mn(12)O(12)(O(2)CCH(3))(16)(H(2)O)(4) (Mn(12)(acetate)(16)), which is transferred from solution onto a Au(111) substrate held in ultrahigh vacuum using electrospray deposition (UHV-ESD). The deposited Mn(12)(acetate)(16) molecules form filamentary aggregates because of the anisotropic nature of the molecule-molecule and molecule-substrate interactions, as confirmed by molecular dynamics calculations. The fragile Mn(12)O(12) core of the Mn(12)(acetate)(16) molecule is compatible with the UHV-ESD process, which we demonstrate using near-edge X-ray adsorption fine-structure spectroscopy. UHV-ESD of Mn(12)(acetate)(16) onto a surface that has been prepatterned with a hydrogen-bonded supramolecular network provides additional control of lateral organization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anisotropy
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Manganese Compounds / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nanotechnology / methods*

Substances

  • Manganese Compounds
  • Gold