Featured
-
-
Article
| Open AccessCreating a regular array of metal-complexing molecules on an insulator surface at room temperature
Arrays of ordered metal atoms on bulk insulating materials are promising for future applications, such as optoelectronics and data storage. Here, the authors demonstrate a strategy to create an ordered metal array based on tailored anchoring and hard-sphere repulsion of metal-complexing molecules.
- Simon Aeschlimann
- , Sebastian V. Bauer
- & Angelika Kühnle
-
Article
| Open AccessBayesian learning of chemisorption for bridging the complexity of electronic descriptors
Developing a generalizable model to describe adsorption processes at metal surfaces can be extremely challenging due to complex phenomena involved. Here the authors introduce a Bayesian learning approach based on ab initio data and the d-band model to capture the essential physics of adsorbate–substrate interactions.
- Siwen Wang
- , Hemanth Somarajan Pillai
- & Hongliang Xin
-
Article
| Open AccessHigh-resolution combinatorial patterning of functional nanoparticles
Precise patterning of functional nanoparticles can provide a powerful tool for next-generation macroscale devices. Here, the authors report a reliable nanoprinting technique that can pattern various functional nanoparticles on the substrate with a 200 nm pitch and 10 nm position accuracy, and above the millimeter scale.
- Xing Xing
- , Zaiqin Man
- & Zhenda Lu
-
Article
| Open AccessElectrochemical deposition of N-heterocyclic carbene monolayers on metal surfaces
N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have been widely used for the formation of monolayers but self-assembly methods come with drawbacks such as need for dry environment or using specifically-synthesized precursors. Here, the authors demonstrate an approach for surface-anchoring of NHCs which overcomes these limitations by using electrochemically-assisted deprotonation.
- Einav Amit
- , Linoy Dery
- & Elad Gross
-
Article
| Open AccessHow Rh surface breaks CO2 molecules under ambient pressure
Direct observation of carbon dioxide dissociation provides an origin of catalytic conversion for industrial chemical reactions. Here, the authors reveal their molecular interactions on the rhodium catalyst at near-ambient pressure by interface science techniques and computational calculations.
- Jeongjin Kim
- , Hyunwoo Ha
- & Jeong Young Park
-
Article
| Open AccessPorous carbon nanowire array for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
SERS can be unreliable for biomedical use. The authors demonstrate a metal-free nanostructure composed of porous carbon nanowires in an array as a SERS substrate. It offers 106 signal enhancement due to strong broadband charge-transfer resonance and substrate-to-substrate, spot-to-spot and time-to-time consistency in the SERS spectrum.
- Nan Chen
- , Ting-Hui Xiao
- & Keisuke Goda
-
Article
| Open AccessTailoring π-conjugation and vibrational modes to steer on-surface synthesis of pentalene-bridged ladder polymers
Development of strategies for the synthesis of pi-conjugated polymers is hampered by limited solubility. Here, the authors report a synthetic protocol based on the search for specific vibrational modes through an appropriate tailoring of the p-conjugation of the precursors, in order to increase the attempt frequency of a chemical reaction.
- Bruno de la Torre
- , Adam Matěj
- & David Écija
-
Article
| Open AccessSite-dependent reactivity of MoS2 nanoparticles in hydrodesulfurization of thiophene
MoS2 nanoparticles catalyze the extraction of heteroatom S in hydrocarbons by adsorption onto S vacancies. Here, the authors show that S vacancy properties are highly site sensitive and that adsorption of thiophene leads to self-generation of a more open double vacancy site.
- Norberto Salazar
- , Srinivas Rangarajan
- & Jeppe V. Lauritsen
-
Article
| Open AccessProbing consequences of anion-dictated electrochemistry on the electrode/monolayer/electrolyte interfacial properties
Conveying electrochemistry in terms of the electrode/electrolyte interfacial properties remains challenging. Here, the authors employ a surface-bound molecular probe and photoelectron spectroscopy to peer into the anion-dictated and potential-induced interfacial electronic and structural properties.
- Raymond A. Wong
- , Yasuyuki Yokota
- & Yousoo Kim
-
Article
| Open AccessAssembly of a patchy protein into variable 2D lattices via tunable multiscale interactions
As nanoscale building blocks, proteins offer unique advantages, including monodispersity and atomically tunable interactions, but their self-assembly is limited compared to inorganic or polymeric nanoparticles. Here, the authors show modular self-assembly of an engineered protein into four physicochemically distinct patterned 2D crystals via control of four classes of interactions.
- Shuai Zhang
- , Robert G. Alberstein
- & F. Akif Tezcan
-
Article
| Open AccessSetting benchmarks for modelling gas–surface interactions using coherent control of rotational orientation states
A fundamental and predictive understanding of molecule-surface interactions is challenging to obtain. Here the authors report an experimental technique allowing direct measurement of the scattering matrix, which reports on the coherent evolution of quantum states of a molecule scattering from a surface.
- Yosef Alkoby
- , Helen Chadwick
- & Gil Alexandrowicz
-
Article
| Open AccessObserving atomic layer electrodeposition on single nanocrystals surface by dark field spectroscopy
Underpotential deposition (UPD) is important to modify the surface properties of nanocrystals. Here, the authors show the application of in situ electrochemical dark field spectroscopy in identifying the UPD processes of silver on different facets of gold nanocrystals at the single nanoparticle level.
- Shu Hu
- , Jun Yi
- & Bin Ren
-
Article
| Open AccessTuning the activities of cuprous oxide nanostructures via the oxide-metal interaction
The design of oxide-metal interface for heterogeneous catalysis has been hampered by the limited fundamental understanding. Here, the authors demonstrate that the activities of cuprous oxide nanostructures for CO oxidation can be tuned via the oxide-metal (Cu2O/M, M = Pt, Ag, Au) interaction.
- Wugen Huang
- , Qingfei Liu
- & Fan Yang
-
Article
| Open AccessCombining high-resolution scanning tunnelling microscopy and first-principles simulations to identify halogen bonding
Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) is commonly used to study 2D molecular self-assembly but is not always enough to fully solve a supramolecular structure. Here, the authors combine a high-resolution version of STM with first-principles simulations to precisely identify halogen bonding in polycyclic aromatic molecules.
- James Lawrence
- , Gabriele C. Sosso
- & Giovanni Costantini
-
Article
| Open AccessComplex k-uniform tilings by a simple bitopic precursor self-assembled on Ag(001) surface
Division of a Euclidean plane into regular polygons may result in intriguing physical and chemical properties. Here the authors present a way to synthesize complex k-uniform tilings at surfaces by a partial chemical transformation of a precursor molecule.
- Lukáš Kormoš
- , Pavel Procházka
- & Jan Čechal
-
Article
| Open AccessHydrogen migration at restructuring palladium–silver oxide boundaries dramatically enhances reduction rate of silver oxide
Species migration across interfacial boundaries can affect the function of bimetallic catalysts. Here the authors report that palladium oxide drives the reduction of silver oxide by facilitating molecular hydrogen dissociation and migration of hydrogen atoms across the Pd–Ag interface with concurrent surface restructuring.
- Christopher R. O’Connor
- , Matthijs A. van Spronsen
- & Cynthia M. Friend
-
Article
| Open AccessExamining the surface evolution of LaTiOxNy an oxynitride solar water splitting photocatalyst
While solar-driven water splitting may afford a renewable means to harvest energy, it is essential to understand how photocatalysts transform during catalysis. Here, authors study LaTiOxNy films by surface-sensitive techniques before and after photoelectrochemical water splitting.
- Craig Lawley
- , Maarten Nachtegaal
- & Thomas Lippert
-
Article
| Open AccessDiagnosis and prognosis of myocardial infarction on a plasmonic chip
The gold standard for diagnosis and monitoring of myocardial infarction is a chemiluminescence assay based on the detection of cardian troponin I (cTnI). Here, the authors develop a plasmonic gold nano-island chip assay for ultrasensitive detection of cTnI in as little as 10 μL of serum.
- Wei Xu
- , Lin Wang
- & Kun Qian
-
Matters Arising
| Open AccessElectronic metal-support interactions in vacuum vs. electrolyte
- Tobias Binninger
-
Article
| Open AccessResolving the puzzle of single-atom silver dispersion on nanosized γ-Al2O3 surface for high catalytic performance
Detailed atom-level anchoring mechanism of Ag species on γ-Al2O3 is largely unknown for the widely used Ag/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. Here, the authors demonstrate that single-Ag atom can be only anchored by the terminal hydroxyls on the (100) surfaces of γ-Al2O3 through consuming two or three terminal hydroxyls.
- Fei Wang
- , Jinzhu Ma
- & Xiao Cheng Zeng
-
Article
| Open AccessIdentifying Eigen-like hydrated protons at negatively charged interfaces
Hydrated protons are always present in aqueous solution, but their molecular structure remains under debate. Here the authors use vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy to show that at negatively charged liquid–vapor interfaces, protons adopt a specific configuration characteristic of Eigen-like species.
- Eric Tyrode
- , Sanghamitra Sengupta
- & Adrien Sthoer
-
Article
| Open AccessNanoscopic diffusion of water on a topological insulator
Water molecular motion on surfaces underpins a range of phenomena in nature. The authors resolve the nanoscale-nanosecond motion of water at a topological insulator’s surface by helium spin-echo spectroscopy and computations, reporting hopping among sites and repulsion between water molecules.
- Anton Tamtögl
- , Marco Sacchi
- & William Allison
-
Article
| Open AccessSurface enhanced Raman scattering artificial nose for high dimensionality fingerprinting
Label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy is an emergent method for the detection and discrimination of biological analytes. Here, the authors describe SERS sensors with arrayed mildly-selective surface chemistries to give a fingerprint based on different interactions for analysing biological samples.
- Nayoung Kim
- , Michael R. Thomas
- & Molly M. Stevens
-
Article
| Open AccessReactivity mapping of nanoscale defect chemistry under electrochemical reaction conditions
Identifying reacting species locally with nanometer precision is a major challenge in electrochemical surface science. Using operando Raman nanoscopy, authors image the reversible, concurrent formation of nanometer-spatially separated Au2O3 and Au2O species during Au nanodefect oxidation.
- Jonas H. K. Pfisterer
- , Masoud Baghernejad
- & Katrin F. Domke
-
Article
| Open AccessPlasmon-enhanced stimulated Raman scattering microscopy with single-molecule detection sensitivity
Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy enables label-free chemical imaging at high speed, but has been limited by low sensitivity. Here, the authors demonstrate plasmon-enhanced SRS microscopy and achieve single molecule detection sensitivity.
- Cheng Zong
- , Ranjith Premasiri
- & Ji-Xin Cheng
-
Article
| Open AccessTemplate-controlled on-surface synthesis of a lanthanide supernaphthalocyanine and its open-chain polycyanine counterpart
Extending the π‐conjugation of phthalocyanine dyes, while synthetically challenging, has the potential to produce desirable new molecular materials. Here, the authors use a templated on‐surface approach to synthesize several extended phthalocyanine derivatives from the same building block, including a lanthanide superphthalocyanine and an open‐chain polycyanine.
- Qitang Fan
- , Jan-Niclas Luy
- & J. Michael Gottfried
-
Article
| Open AccessHow to control single-molecule rotation
The orientation of a molecule on a surface affects many processes, so the ability to control single-molecule rotation could be powerful. Here, the authors use the electric field from a scanning tunneling microscope tip to precisely induce unidirectional rotation of a polar molecule, allowing visualization of the molecule’s internal dipole moment.
- Grant J. Simpson
- , Víctor García-López
- & Leonhard Grill
-
Article
| Open AccessReaction selectivity of homochiral versus heterochiral intermolecular reactions of prochiral terminal alkynes on surfaces
Controlling selectivity between homochiral and heterochiral reaction pathways on surfaces is intriguing but challenging. Here, the authors demonstrate strategies in steering the reactions of prochiral terminal alkynes between the homochiral and heterochiral pathways by tuning the precursor substituents and the kinetic parameters.
- Tao Wang
- , Haifeng Lv
- & Junfa Zhu
-
Article
| Open AccessA chiral molecular propeller designed for unidirectional rotations on a surface
Controlling the rotation direction of individual molecular machines requires precise design and manipulation. Here, the authors describe a surface-adsorbed molecular propeller that, upon excitation with a scanning tunneling microscope tip, can rotate clockwise or anticlockwise depending on its chirality, and directly visualize its stepwise rotation with STM images.
- Yuan Zhang
- , Jan Patrick Calupitan
- & Saw Wai Hla
-
Article
| Open AccessTailoring the photoelectrochemistry of catalytic metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) photoanodes by a dissolution method
Designing synthetic systems to convert light into fuel is crucial in renewable energy development. Here, authors study electrodissolution in nickel thin films from metal-insulator-semiconductor junctions and find decreased homogeneity to improve junction properties and catalytic performances.
- G. Loget
- , C. Mériadec
- & S. Ababou-Girard
-
Article
| Open AccessIdentifying surface reaction intermediates with photoemission tomography
Identifying reaction pathways is a major challenge in chemistry, and proves particularly difficult for surface reactions. Here the authors show that imaging the molecular orbitals with photoemission tomography provides insight into the structure of surface intermediates allowing their identification.
- Xiaosheng Yang
- , Larissa Egger
- & F. Stefan Tautz
-
Article
| Open AccessSelective self-assembly of 2,3-diaminophenazine molecules on MoSe2 mirror twin boundaries
Mirror twin boundaries (MTBs) have been observed as metallic line defects in 2D transition metal dichalcogenides, but their chemical properties are not well understood. Here, the authors show that MTB defect networks on MoSe2 are more chemically reactive to organic molecules than pristine domains, and can template the self-assembly of hexagonal organic porous structures.
- Xiaoyue He
- , Lei Zhang
- & Andrew Thye Shen Wee
-
Article
| Open AccessEnhanced photocatalysis and biomolecular sensing with field-activated nanotube-nanoparticle templates
Plasmonic nanomaterials offer new frontiers as photocatalysis and sensor materials, yet elucidating factors controlling each is a challenge. Here, authors examine the role of electric fields in photocatalysis and biomolecule sensing abilities of peptide-nanotubesupported silver nanoparticles.
- Sawsan Almohammed
- , Sebastian Tade Barwich
- & James H. Rice
-
Article
| Open AccessSolar energy storage at an atomically defined organic-oxide hybrid interface
Molecular photoswitches provide an extremely simple solution for solar energy conversion and storage. Here, the authors report on the assembly of an operational solar energy-storing organic-oxide hybrid interface, which consists of a tailor-made molecular photoswitch and an atomically-defined semiconducting oxide film.
- Christian Schuschke
- , Chantal Hohner
- & Jörg Libuda
-
Article
| Open AccessRapid evaluation of bioactive Ti-based surfaces using an in vitro titration method
In vitro testing of implant materials bioactivity is important and the current methods take time. Here, the authors report on the development of a faster titration based method for assessing the mineralization activity of materials and validate the method in vitro and in vivo using titanium surfaces.
- Weitian Zhao
- , David Michalik
- & Paul Bowen
-
Article
| Open AccessA tightly-bonded and flexible mesoporous zeolite-cotton hybrid hemostat
Zeolites have attracted attention and have been applied as haemostatic agents; however, there are issues associated with released zeolite powder. Here, the authors report on the growth of zeolites on cotton fibres with high stability and haemostatic ability.
- Lisha Yu
- , Xiaoqiang Shang
- & Jie Fan
-
Article
| Open AccessDramatic differences in carbon dioxide adsorption and initial steps of reduction between silver and copper
The recycling of CO2 into storable chemicals is critical in order to mitigate climate change, although CO2’s inert nature has limited the reduction’s mechanistic considerations. Here, authors pair in-situ spectroscopy with quantum mechanics to elucidate CO2 adsorption on copper and silver surfaces.
- Yifan Ye
- , Hao Yang
- & Ethan J. Crumlin
-
Article
| Open AccessUltrafast energy relaxation dynamics of amide I vibrations coupled with protein-bound water molecules
Vibrational energy relaxation of proteins helps us to understand ultrafast protein dynamics. Here, the authors determine the vibrational energy transfer time of the amide I mode in aqueous environment and find that water provides a “shortcut” through a direct resonant channel to dissipate energy into the solvent.
- Junjun Tan
- , Jiahui Zhang
- & Shuji Ye
-
Article
| Open AccessOn-surface light-induced generation of higher acenes and elucidation of their open-shell character
The synthesis of large acenes via traditional solution-chemistry routes is hindered by their poor solubility and high reactivity under ambient conditions. Here, the authors demonstrate the on-surface formation of large acenes, via visible-light-induced photo-dissociation of α-bisdiketone molecular precursors on an Au(111) substrate.
- José I. Urgel
- , Shantanu Mishra
- & Roman Fasel
-
Article
| Open AccessControl of structural flexibility of layered-pillared metal-organic frameworks anchored at surfaces
Understanding the structural dynamics of flexible metal-organic frameworks at a thin-film level is key if they are to be implemented in devices. Here, Fischer and colleagues anchor flexible MOF crystallites onto substrates and identify a structural responsiveness that is distinct to that of the bulk.
- Suttipong Wannapaiboon
- , Andreas Schneemann
- & Roland A. Fischer
-
Article
| Open AccessMechano-chemical decomposition of organic friction modifiers with multiple reactive centres induces superlubricity of ta-C
The mechanism underlying the superlubricity of tetrahedral amorphous carbon coatings lubricated with organic friction modifiers is still under debate. Here the authors combine experiments and simulations to reveal that superlubricious layers form due the mechano-chemical decomposition of friction modifiers.
- Takuya Kuwahara
- , Pedro A. Romero
- & Michael Moseler
-
Article
| Open AccessSelective on-surface covalent coupling based on metal-organic coordination template
Synthesizing precise conjugated nanostructures on a surface requires fine control over the covalent reaction pathways. Here, the authors show that reversible coordinative bonds can be used to template on-surface C-C coupling reactions, guiding the formation of porous organic nanoribbons.
- Shuaipeng Xing
- , Zhe Zhang
- & Ziliang Shi
-
Article
| Open AccessTwo-dimensional transition metal carbides as supports for tuning the chemistry of catalytic nanoparticles
The performance of supported metal nanoparticle catalysts can be tailored by metal-support interactions, but their use in catalyst design is still challenging. Here, the authors develop two-dimensional transition metal carbides as platforms for designing intermetallic compound catalysts that are efficient for light alkane dehydrogenations.
- Zhe Li
- , Liang Yu
- & Yue Wu
-
Article
| Open AccessUnravelling the effect of charge dynamics at the plasmonic metal/semiconductor interface for CO2 photoreduction
Light-driven CO2 reduction provides a way to limit greenhouse gas concentrations, but understanding how materials accomplish this transformation is challenging. Here, authors examine the reaction over plasmonic silver-titanium dioxide using time-resolved, in situ techniques to follow the mechanism.
- Laura Collado
- , Anna Reynal
- & Víctor A. de la Peña O’Shea
-
Article
| Open AccessTailoring atomic layer growth at the liquid-metal interface
Ultrathin metallic films are most often fabricated by atomic or molecular beam epitaxy under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, where it is difficult to control deposition and growth. Here, the authors describe a wet deposition method, using solution-borne gold nanocluster precursors, to regulate growth of atomically flat gold nanoislands on a surface.
- Hai Cao
- , Deepali Waghray
- & Steven De Feyter
-
Article
| Open AccessTwo-dimensional tessellation by molecular tiles constructed from halogen–halogen and halogen–metal networks
Molecular tessellations of complex tilings are difficult to design and construct. Here, the authors show that molecular tessellations can be formed from a single building block that gives rise to two distinct supramolecular phases, whose self-similar subdomains serve as tiles in the periodic tessellations.
- Fang Cheng
- , Xue-Jun Wu
- & Kian Ping Loh
-
Article
| Open AccessDehydrative π-extension to nanographenes with zig-zag edges
Nanographenes with zig-zag peripheries are expected to have unique electronic properties, but their application in organic electronics has been curbed by their difficult synthesis. Here, the authors develop a facile route to zig-zag nanographenes based on a key dehydrative π-extension reaction.
- Dominik Lungerich
- , Olena Papaianina
- & Konstantin Amsharov
-
Article
| Open AccessMass spectrometry and Monte Carlo method mapping of nanoparticle ligand shell morphology
Determining the arrangement of ligands on a nanoparticle is challenging, given the limitations of existing characterization tools. Here, the authors describe an accessible method for resolving ligand shell morphology that uses simple MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry measurements in conjunction with an open-access Monte Carlo fitting program.
- Zhi Luo
- , Yanfei Zhao
- & Francesco Stellacci
-
Article
| Open AccessContact angle measurement of free-standing square-millimeter single-layer graphene
Experimental determination of the contact angle of a two-dimensional film is crucial to understand its wettability characteristics. Here, the authors use the captive bubble method to estimate a contact angle value of 42° ± 3° for a monolayer graphene film.
- Anna V. Prydatko
- , Liubov A. Belyaeva
- & Grégory F. Schneider