Formation of Hydrophobic Nanographene Adlayers Using Water-soluble Micellar Capsules

Abstract

Large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the so-called nanographenes, are attractive materials for the creation of two- and/or three-dimensional (2D and/or 3D) thin films. However, they exhibit no solubilities in organic solvents and water. To overcome this issue, in the present study, we employed water-soluble micellar capsules consisting of V-shaped amphiphilic molecules. Characteristic dicoronylene and C₉₆H₃₀ adlayers were successfully prepared on Au(111) using the water-soluble micellar capsules. The details on the adlayer structures were clearly revealed by scanning tunneling microscopy imaging with molecular resolutions. The result indicates that our molecular containers method based on the water-soluble micellar capsules can apply to form larger PAH adlayers.