Dysprosium-directed metallosupramolecular network on graphene/Ir(111)

The interest in exploiting the unique properties of lanthanides has led to the recent design of two-dimensional coordination networks incorporating f-block elements on metallic surfaces. In order to take this field to the next step of progression, it is necessary to electronically decouple these two-dimensional architectures from the metallic surface underneath. As a first step in this direction, we report the formation of dysprosium-directed metal-organic networks employing three-fold ligands as molecular linkers equipped with terminal carbonitrile functional groups on weakly interacting substrates such as Au(111) and graphene/Ir(111). We observe on both substrates identical quasi-hexagonal Dy-carbonitrile coordination networks based on majority five-fold nodes. Our findings provide perspectives for the formation of lanthanide coordination networks on graphene and related sp(2) materials grown on metals.

Automated summary

Interest in exploiting the unique properties of lanthanides has led to the recent design of two-dimensional coordination networks incorporating f-block elements on metallic surfaces. To electronically decouple these structures from the metallic surface underneath, dysprosium-directed metal-organic networks have been formed using three-fold ligands on weakly interacting substrates such as Au(111) and graphene/Ir(111). Identical quasi-hexagonal Dy-carbonitrile coordination networks based on majority five-fold nodes were observed on both substrates, providing perspectives for the formation of lanthanide coordination networks on graphene and related sp(2) materials grown on metals.