Self-Assembly and External Modulation of a Flexible Porphyrin Derivative on Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite.

With the aid of scanning tunneling microscopy, we have examined the two-dimensional hydrogen-bonded networks of carboxyl-functionalized porphyrin derivative H2TCPp molecules at the heptanoic acid/HOPG interface. Moreover, we have successfully modulated the self-assembly structure of H2TCPp by introducing 1,2-di(4-pyridyl)ethylene molecules into the assembled system. By performing density functional theory calculations, we also revealed the formation mechanisms of the different assemblies and the modulation process. Comparing the self-assembly structures at the liquid/solid interface with those in bulk crystals, we have obtained deep insight into the differences in H2TCPp assemblies between 2D and 3D networks. Furthermore, this research is expected to deepen our understanding of on-surface phenomena and to provide a feasible process toward 2D assembly regulation.