Dresden 2026 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik

O 8: Nanostructures at surfaces:1D, 2D, networks I

O 8.3: Hauptvortrag

Montag, 9. März 2026, 11:00–11:30, WILL/A317

Controlling nanostructures on surfaces via intermolecular interactions — •Yunjun Cao — Physical Chemistry I, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, D-44801 Bochum, Germany

Synthesizing sophisticated nanostructures on surfaces requires precise control over intermolecular interactions ranging from strong covalent bonds to weak van der Waals interactions. In the first part of the talk, I will present an irreversible, multi-step covalent coupling strategy for reactive molecules. By precisely controlling the reaction sequence, we synthesize highly branched nanostructures on a metal surface [1]. As a complementary approach, I will then introduce a reversible, multi-step self-assembly protocol for sterically crowded molecules, highlighting how intermolecular van der Waals interactions steer the formation of well-separated cyclic nanostructures with an unprecedented high yield [2]. Finally, I will turn to the single-molecule level and discuss how to control via van der Waals interactions the configuration of individual molecules [3] and the potential energy landscape of a dynamic chirality switch [4]. Our studies highlight how tunable intermolecular interaction strengths control the synthesis of tailored nanostructures on surfaces.
[1] Y. Cao et al., Nat. Commun. in press (2025). [2] Y. Cao et al., ACS Nano 19, 21942 (2025). [3] Y. Cao et al., Phys. Rev. B 111, 115426 (2025). [4] Y. Cao et al., Nat. Commun. 14, 4500 (2023).

Keywords: self-assembly; on-surface chemistry; single-molecule chemistry; van der Waals interactions; scanning tunneling microscopy