Substrate induced morphology in a hydrosulfide-molybdenum complex

Abstract

Electron microscopic imaging study requires a material to be deposited onto a substrate for imaging. The role of substrates in mediating diverse morphologies of [Mo₂O₄(bpy)₂(SH)₂], 1, has been investigated on silicon, glass, aluminium, brass, copper and zinc surfaces. Distinct motifs of 1 were displayed depending on the surface upon which it was deposited. Morphological variation was observed from cuboid, spheroid and diamondoid nano-crystals on glass, silicon and aluminium to garlands studded with flowers on brass, copper and zinc. On brass, copper and zinc, thin sheet-like growth was observed along the surface as a consequence of the interaction of the –SH moiety with these substrates. These sheets are truncated at intervals giving rise to multipodal junctions. These junctions provide nucleation sites for secondary sheets which finally evolved into flower-like superstructures. Minor variations within similar substrate types could be attributed to the difference in conductivity and roughness of the substrates. The identity of 1 is retained in the self-assembled motifs.