Orthogonal Supramolecular Polymer Formation on Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG) Surfaces Characterized by Scanning Probe Microscopy

Abstract

Formation of an orthogonal supramolecular polymer on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surface was demonstrated for the first time by means of scanning probe microscopy (SPM). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to characterize the variation of both the thickness and the topography of the film formed from (1) monomer 1, (2) monomer 1/Zn(2+), and (3) monomer 1/Zn(2+)/cross-linker 2, respectively. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was used to monitor the self-assembly behavior of monomer 1 itself, as well as 1/Zn(2+) ions binary system on graphite surface, further testifying for the formation of linear polymer via coordination interaction at the single molecule level. These results, given by the strong surface characterization tool of SPM, confirm the formation of the orthogonal polymer on the surface of graphite, which has great significance in regard to fabricating a complex superstructure on surfaces.