Structure transformation from Sierpiński triangles to chains assisted by gas moleculesOA

作者：Chao Li; Zhen Xu; Yajie Zhang^*; Jie Li; Na Xue; Ruoning Li; Mingjun Zhong; Tianhao Wu; Yifan Wang; Na Li; Ziyong Shen; Shimin Hou^*; Richard Berndt^*; Yongfeng Wang^*; Song Gao

来源：National Science Review, 2023, 10(07): 151-158.

Reversible transformations between fractals and perio dic structures are of fundamental importance for understanding the formation mechanism of fractals.Currently,it is still a challenge to controllably achieve such a transformation.We investigate the effect of CO and CO2 molecules on Sierpiński triangles(STs)assembled from Fe atoms and 4,4″-dicyano-1,1′:3′,1″-terphenyl(C3PC) molecules on Au surfaces.Using scanning tunneling microscopy,we discover that the gas molecules induce a transition from STs into 1D chains.Based on density functional theory modeling,we propose that the atomistic mechanism involves the transformation of a stable 3-fold coordination Fe(C3PC)3 motif to Fe(C3PC)4 with an axially bonded CO molecule.CO2 causes the structural transformation through a molecular catassembly process.

• 单位
  北京大学; 华南理工大学