On-Surface Supramolecular Chemistry with Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines: An Architectural Concept Leading to Engineered Quantum-Functional Nanostructures

The availability of porphyrin and phthalocyanine functionalization and synthesis, ‘by design’, at the time when sub-molecular resolution imaging at surfaces came into action boosted the emergence of ‘On-Surface-Supramolecular Chemistry’. [1] It is instructive to compare supra-molecular binding motifs in the fluid phase with the corresponding or modified analogues found after assembly on surfaces. In some similarity to chemistry and coordination chemistry translating into the corresponding ‘on-surface’ sciences, there are many factors complicating the on-surface assembly and architecture. Examples are provided by the modified dimensionality and kinetics, the site-specific conformational flexure and chirality and the close to irreversible adsorption in the strong surface potential in absence of a solvent which may complicate the on-surface assembly and architecture. Further, porphyrins and phthalocyanines interact with the substrate by different, competitive interactions, i.e. via (1) the central metal atom and (2) the porphyrin pi-system in addition to (3) the functional side groups. Binary and ternary assemblies of porphyrins and other functional components make it possible to create a wealth of ‘phases’, i.e. different complex supramolecular architectures with interesting physical properties to explore and exploit. We analyze structure-function correlations for a broad spectrum of functionalized porphyrins and phthalocyanines in their propensity to create structures of increasing complexity and functionality, on surfaces, also for future quantum technology. Notably, the large delocalized electronic system of the porphyrins and their easy-to-replace central atom further extend the achievable range of architectures and functions. Thus, by their dance on the nose of the ‘devil’ [3], porphyrins and phthalocyanines justify the emergence of ‘on-surface supramolecular physics’ as reflected by ongoing and future research work. [1] N. Wintjes et al. Two-dimensional phase behavior of a bimolecular porphyrin system at the solid-vacuum interface, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 21, 7306-7311; N. Wintjes et al., Supramolecular synthons on surfaces: Controlling dimensionality and periodicity of tetraarylporphyrin assemblies by the interplay of cyano and alkoxy substituents Chem. Eur. J. 2008, 14, 5794. [2] S. Nowakowska et al., Adsorbate-induced modification of the confining barriers in a quantum box array, ACS Nano 2018, 12, 768. [3] W. Pauli “God made the bulk; surfaces were invented by the devil.” Quoted, e.g. in the Preface of A. Zangwill, Physics at Surfaces, Cambridge University Press, 1988. ISBN 978-0-521-34752-5 Fig. 1) Adsorbate-induced modification of the confining barriers in a quantum box array formed by a functionalized fluoro-bi-phenyl porphyrin on Ag(111). (Taken from [2]) Figure 1