An aperiodic chiral tiling by topological molecular self-assembly
Abstract Studying the self-assembly of chiral molecules in two dimensions offers insights into the fundamentals of crystallization. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we examine an uncommon aggregation of polyaromatic chiral molecules on a silver surface. Dense packing is achieved through a chiral...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55405-5 |
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| author | Jan Voigt Miloš Baljozović Kévin Martin Christian Wäckerlin Narcis Avarvari Karl-Heinz Ernst |
| author_facet | Jan Voigt Miloš Baljozović Kévin Martin Christian Wäckerlin Narcis Avarvari Karl-Heinz Ernst |
| author_sort | Jan Voigt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Studying the self-assembly of chiral molecules in two dimensions offers insights into the fundamentals of crystallization. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we examine an uncommon aggregation of polyaromatic chiral molecules on a silver surface. Dense packing is achieved through a chiral triangular tiling of triads, with N and N ± 1 molecules at the edges. The triangles feature a random distribution of mirror-isomers, with a significant excess of one isomer. Chirality at the domain boundaries causes a lateral shift, producing three distinct topological defects where six triangles converge. These defects partially contribute to the formation of supramolecular spirals. The observation of different equal-density arrangements suggests that entropy maximization must play a crucial role. Despite the potential for regular patterns, all observed tiling is aperiodic. Differences from previously reported aperiodic molecular assemblies, such as Penrose tiling, are discussed. Our findings demonstrate that two-dimensional molecular self-assembly can be governed by topological constraints, leading to aperiodic tiling induced by intermolecular forces. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-74874ed7bd3c4073bdd20f782aeb49dd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-74874ed7bd3c4073bdd20f782aeb49dd2025-01-05T12:39:46ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-011611910.1038/s41467-024-55405-5An aperiodic chiral tiling by topological molecular self-assemblyJan Voigt0Miloš Baljozović1Kévin Martin2Christian Wäckerlin3Narcis Avarvari4Karl-Heinz Ernst5Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and TechnologyEmpa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and TechnologyUniv Angers, CNRS, MOLTECH-Anjou, SFR MATRIXLaboratory for X-ray Nanoscience and Technologies, Paul-Scherrer-Institut (PSI)Univ Angers, CNRS, MOLTECH-Anjou, SFR MATRIXEmpa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and TechnologyAbstract Studying the self-assembly of chiral molecules in two dimensions offers insights into the fundamentals of crystallization. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we examine an uncommon aggregation of polyaromatic chiral molecules on a silver surface. Dense packing is achieved through a chiral triangular tiling of triads, with N and N ± 1 molecules at the edges. The triangles feature a random distribution of mirror-isomers, with a significant excess of one isomer. Chirality at the domain boundaries causes a lateral shift, producing three distinct topological defects where six triangles converge. These defects partially contribute to the formation of supramolecular spirals. The observation of different equal-density arrangements suggests that entropy maximization must play a crucial role. Despite the potential for regular patterns, all observed tiling is aperiodic. Differences from previously reported aperiodic molecular assemblies, such as Penrose tiling, are discussed. Our findings demonstrate that two-dimensional molecular self-assembly can be governed by topological constraints, leading to aperiodic tiling induced by intermolecular forces.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55405-5 |
| spellingShingle | Jan Voigt Miloš Baljozović Kévin Martin Christian Wäckerlin Narcis Avarvari Karl-Heinz Ernst An aperiodic chiral tiling by topological molecular self-assembly Nature Communications |
| title | An aperiodic chiral tiling by topological molecular self-assembly |
| title_full | An aperiodic chiral tiling by topological molecular self-assembly |
| title_fullStr | An aperiodic chiral tiling by topological molecular self-assembly |
| title_full_unstemmed | An aperiodic chiral tiling by topological molecular self-assembly |
| title_short | An aperiodic chiral tiling by topological molecular self-assembly |
| title_sort | aperiodic chiral tiling by topological molecular self assembly |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55405-5 |
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