Electric-field-induced supramolecular phase transitions at the liquid/solid interface: cat-assembly from solvent additives

Abstract

We demonstrate by using scanning tunneling microscopy that a series of trace organic solvent additives can efficiently promote the electrically triggered phase transition of trimesic acid (TMA), which would otherwise occur rather sporadically. DFT simulations taking into account the electric field effect elucidate such tailored phase transformations, based on the Gibbs activation and free energies of the deprotonation reactions of TMA.