Formation of hydrogen bond-based 2D two-component supramolecular networks at liquid-solid surface

Two kinds of variable binary supramolecular structures constructed by 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (TMA) and terephthalic acid (TPA) on a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Two different solvents (heptanoic acid and nonanoic acid) were utilized to affect the self-assembling structures of TMA and TPA at the liquid/HOPG interfaces. High-resolution STM measurement revealed that the functional networks of TMA/TPA are proposed from the hydrogen-bonding under different solvents environment, and the functionalized flower network could recognize three AgNO3 molecules. These results could be helpful for designing functionalized molecular networks by multi-component self-assembling strategy.