Two-Dimensional 1,3,5-Tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene Self-Assembly at the 1-Phenyloctane/Graphite Interface Revisited

Two-dimensional (2D) self-assembly of star-shaped 1,3,5-tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene molecules is investigated. Scanning tunneling microscopy reveals that this molecule can form three hydrogen-bonded networks at the 1-phenyloctane/graphite interface. One of these structures is close-packed and the two other ones are porous structures, with hexagonal and rectangular cavities. The network with rectangular cavities appears to be the most stable structure.