Balancing Interactions: the Design of Molecular Systems at the Liquid/Solid Interface

Directional and non-directional intermolecular interactions, molecule-substrate interactions and molecular shape are some of the parameters spanning a complex space for the design of two-dimensional molecular layers. With options ranging from porous supramolecular networks to densely packed layers of upright standing molecules, numerous opportunities arise for surface functionalisation, templating and patterning with utmost precision.
However, the prospects for such systems will depend on the extent to which we can control the energy landscape associated with this parameter space. In addition, crucial aspects of molecular self-assembly such as error correction, tolerance to intrinsic defects and molecular dynamics have to be taken into account. As part of our efforts to devise strategies which provide simple access to the bottom end of the nanoscale the talk will discuss opportunities and challenges associated with the hierarchical stepwise assembly of molecular systems and coordination based self-assembled monolayers.