On-Surface Synthesis and Molecular Engineering of Carbon-Based Nanoarchitectures.

Abstract

On-surface synthesis <i>via</i> covalent coupling of adsorbed precursor molecules on metal surfaces has emerged as a promising strategy for the design and fabrication of novel organic nanoarchitectures with unique properties and potential applications in nanoelectronics, optoelectronics, spintronics, catalysis, <i>etc</i>. Surface-chemistry-driven molecular engineering (<i>i.e</i>., bond cleavage, linkage, and rearrangement) by means of thermal activation, light irradiation, and tip manipulation plays critical roles in various on-surface synthetic processes, as exemplified by the work from the Ernst group in a prior issue of <i>ACS Nano</i>. In this Perspective, we highlight recent advances in and discuss the outlook for on-surface syntheses and molecular engineering of carbon-based nanoarchitectures.