Functional Patterning of Graphene via an All-Supramolecular Strategy

Surface-confined, supramolecular self-assembly has been the focus of extensive research in the past decade[1]. A number of strategies have been developed and reported for surface patterning leading to novel applications in molecular electronics, photonics and nano-mechanical devices.[2] Despite this, we are still at the early stages of exploiting them in viable, practical technologies since we are limited by their inability to form reproducible, ordered, integrated systems [3]. More specifically, in the case of graphene, we also have to overcome the strong charge transfer that occurs when electronically-active molecules are adsorbed on its surface.<br/>To address this problem, we have developed a series of molecular dyads that can form ordered assemblies on graphene-like substrates and also bear an emissive component located out-of-the plane of the substrate. These dyads are held together via non-covalent interactions, which enable us to easily mix & match the components, resulting in a highly tunable system.<br/>This relatively simple design allows us to control the orientation and distance of an emissive component above a graphene-like substrate through different supramolecular interactions and opens up an accessible route to electronically de-couple an optically-active molecule from graphene.[4]<br/><br/>[1] L. Sosa-Vargas, E. Kim, A.-J. Attias, <i>Mater. </i><i>Horiz</i>. <b>2017</b>,<i>4</i>, 570-583.<br/>[2] A. Ciesielski, C.-A. Palma, M. Bonini, P. Samori, <i>Adv. </i><i>Mater</i>.,<b>2010</b>,22, 3506-3520; J. V. Barth, G. Constantini, K. Kern, <i>Nature</i>, <b>2005</b>, <i>437</i>, 671-679. S. Le Liepvre, P. Du, D. Kreher, F. Mathevet, A.-J. Attias, C. Fiorini-Debuisschert, L. Douillard, and F. Charra ,<i>ACS Photonics</i>, <b>2016</b>, <i>3</i> (12), pp 2291–2296.<br/>[3] K. Ariga, Q. Ji, J. P. Hill, Y. Bando, M. Aono, <i>NPG Asia Mater</i>.,<b>2012</b>, <i>4</i>, e17.<br/>[4] Q. Fernez, S. Moradmand, M. Mattera, W. Djampa-Tapi, C. Fiorini-Debuisschert F. Charra, D. Kreher, F. Mathevet, I. Arfaoui, L. Sosa Vargas, (submitted).