Electrochemical atomic force microscopy of two-dimensional trinuclear ruthenium clusters molecular assembly and dynamics under redox state control

Mixed-valence ruthenium trinuclear clusters containing dichloroacetates were synthesized, and the self-assembly of a single molecular adlayer composed of these clusters on a graphite surface was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM clearly revealed the dynamics of two-dimensional (2D) structure formation as well as the molecular characteristics of the adlayers at different electrochemical interfaces. The results verified that the design of metal complexes is important not only for redox chemistry but also for molecular assembly and nanoarchitecture construction.

Automated summary

We synthesized mixed-valence ruthenium trinuclear clusters containing dichloroacetates and investigated their self-assembly into a single molecular adlayer on a graphite surface by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM results clearly showed the dynamics of two-dimensional structure formation and the molecular characteristics of the adlayers at different electrochemical interfaces. This study confirmed the importance of metal complex design not only for redox chemistry but also for molecular assembly and nanoarchitecture construction.