Freestanding nanosheets from crosslinked biphenyl self-assembled monolayers

Freestanding nanosheets (see Figure) with the thickness of a single molecule and lateral dimensions in the micrometer range have been obtained by the release of self-assembled monolayers from the underlying surface by dissolution of the substrate or by scission of the anchor group-substrate bonds. The self-assembled monolayers are composed of biphenyl units that are crosslinked by electron irradiation.