Convergent Fabrication of a Nanoporous Two-Dimensional Carbon Network from an Aldol Condensation on Metal Surfaces

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel surface polymerization method on gold surfaces, creating a stable, nanoporous 2D carbon network via triple aldol condensation, with detailed structural analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a convergent surface polymerization scheme on Au(111) that forms a stable, nanoporous 2D carbon network through triple aldol condensation, advancing surface chemistry techniques.

Findings

Successful formation of a covalent nanoporous 2D network

Reaction proceeds to full surface coverage without self-poisoning

Structural insights obtained via microscopy, spectroscopy, and DFT

Abstract

We report a convergent surface polymerization reaction scheme on Au(111), based on a triple aldol condensation, yielding a carbon-rich, covalent nanoporous two-dimensional network. The reaction is not self-poisoning and proceeds up to a full surface coverage. The deposited precursor molecules 1,3,5-tri(4'-acetylphenyl) first form supramolecular assemblies that are converted to the porous covalent network upon heating. The formation and structure of the network and of the intermediate steps are studied with scanning tunneling microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory.