Chiral structures of lander molecules on Cu(100)

TL;DR

This study uses low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy to explore the chiral structures and arrangements of lander molecules on Cu(100), revealing enantiomeric conformations, chain formations, and domain structures influenced by intermolecular interactions.

Contribution

It provides detailed structural insights into chiral lander molecule assemblies on copper surfaces, including enantiomeric conformations and domain formations, advancing understanding of surface chirality.

Findings

Molecules exist in two mirror-symmetric enantiomers.

Enantiomerically pure chains form along specific directions.

Chiral domains develop at higher coverages.

Abstract

Supramolecular assemblies of lander molecules (C$_{90}$H$_{98}$) on Cu(100) are investigated with low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. The energetically most favourable conformation of the adsorbed molecule is found to exist in two mirror symmetric enantiomers or conformers. At low coverage, the molecules align in enantiomerically pure chains along the chiral directions $[01\bar{2}],[02\bar{1}],[012]$ and $[021]$. The arrangement is proposed to be mainly governed by intermolecular van-der-Waals interaction. At higher coverages, the molecular chains arrange into chiral domains, for which a structural model is presented.