Adsorption phenomena of cubane-type tetranuclear Ni(II) complexes with neutral, thioether-functionalized ligands on Au(111)

摘要: Abstract The controlled and intact deposition of molecules with specific properties onto surfaces is an emergent field impacting a wide range applications including catalysis, molecular electronics, quantum information processing. One strategy to introduce grafting groups functionalized anchor surface. While thiols disulfides have proven be quite effective in combination gold surfaces, other S-containing received much less attention. Here, we investigate the surface anchoring organizing capabilities novel charge-neutral heterocyclic thioether as ligands polynuclear nickel(II) complexes. We report on cubane-type {Ni4} (= [Ni(μ3-Cl)Cl(HL·S)]4) single-molecule magnet from dichloromethane solution Au(111) surface, investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, both immediately after subsequent post-annealing. results provide strong evidence for partial decomposition coordination complex upon that, however, leaves magnetic {Ni4Cl4n} (n = 1 or 2) core intact. Only post-annealing above 480 K induces further fragmentation core. detailed insight into chemisorption-induced pathway not only provides guidelines thioether-functionalized Ni(II) complexes metallic but also reveals opportunities use multidentate organic decorated transporters highly unstable inorganic structures conducting where they are stabilized retaining appealing electronic properties.