Two-dimensional nanofabrication and supramolecular functionality controlled by mechanical stimuli

• Two-dimensional molecular patterns were fabricated by mechanical process.
• Soft matter functions were controlled by mechanical stimuli.
• Mechanochromic luminescence was showed in thin films.
• Probe tips can manipulate single molecules on metal surface.
• Supramolecular functions were controlled by hand-operated nanotechnology.

Thin film environments can be used to combine several dimension-dependent properties since the axis of thickness can be nanometric while lateral dimensions can be at macroscopically visible length scales. Coupling between a mechanical stimulus in the lateral direction and molecular motion parallel with the axis of thickness may result in connection of macroscopic mechanical stimuli with molecular-scale and nanometer scale functions. In this short review, we focus on recent developments in the challenging and unexplored science and technology of mechanical control of nanoscale properties of thin films. Research described here has been classified according to: (i) nanofabrication based on mechanical processes, (ii) mechanical control of soft matter functionality, (iii) mechanochromics, (iv) mechanical control of nanosystems, and (v) hand-operated nanotechnology for control at the nanoscale using macroscale manipulation. Several examples, including formation of two-dimensional molecular and microscopic patterns, self-healing properties, molecular release stimulated by mechanical stretching and enzyme reactions, mechanochromic functions, manipulation of small objects including molecules and clusters, investigation of electrical and mechanical properties in self-assembled monolayers, and mechanical control of molecular machines, are described.