Potential-driven molecular tiling of a charged polycyclic aromatic compound

Abstract

Using in situ electrochemical scanning tunnelling microscopy (EC-STM), we demonstrate fully reversible tuning of molecular tiling between self-assembled structures with supramolecular motifs containing 2, 3, 4, 6 or 7 tectons. The structures can be explained by electrocompression of the cationic adlayer at the solid–liquid interface.