Polymorphism in porphyrin monolayers: the relation between adsorption configuration and molecular conformationElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Extra STM images showing accurate vector measurements, moir patterns, graphite overlays, cross sections, and vector theory. See DOI: 10.1039/c3cp50829c

• Main Authors: Coenen, Michiel J. J, den Boer, Duncan, van den Bruele, Fieke J, Habets, Thomas, Timmers, Koen A. A. M, van der Maas, Minko, Khoury, Tony, Panduwinata, Dwi, Crossley, Maxwell J, Reimers, Jeffrey R, van Enckevort, Willem J. P, Hendriksen, Bas L. M, Elemans, Johannes A. A. W, Speller, Sylvia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 10.07.2013
• ISSN: 1463-9076; 1463-9084
• DOI: 10.1039/c3cp50829c

Self-assembled monolayers of meso -5,10,15,20-tetrakis(undecyl)porphyrin copper( ii ) on a graphite/1-octanoic acid interface have been studied by Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy. Four distinct polymorphs were observed, varying in their unit cell size. Arrays of unit cells of the various polymorphs seamlessly connect to each other via shared unit cell vectors. The monolayers are not commensurate, but coincident with the underlying graphite substrate. The seamless transition between the polymorphs is proposed to be the result of an adaptation of the molecular conformations in the polymorphs and at the boundaries, which is enabled by the conformational freedom of the alkyl tails of these molecules. 2D porphyrin polymorphs share unit cell vectors.