Decoupling Chemically Active 2D Molecular Overlayers from the Substrate: Chlorophenyl Porphyrins on Graphene/Ir(111)

Author(s)
Duncan John Mowbray, Alejandro Pérez Paz, Rodrigo C.C. Ferreira, Valeria Milotti, Pedro Schio, Wendell Simoes e Silva, Thomas Pichler, Abner de Siervo, Juan Carlos Moreno-López
Abstract

The synthesis of atomically precise chemically active 2D molecular overlayers may be hindered by chemical interactions with the underlying substrate, especially when based on chlorophenyl porphyrins. At the same time, the chlorination of graphene, i.e., the covalent bonding of chlorine atoms with sp2 carbon atoms, is known to have a significant influence on the electronic properties of pristine graphene. In this study, we deposit a chlorinated porphyrin molecule, namely 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)porphyrin (Cl4TPP), on graphene/Ir(111). Employing a combined experimental and theoretical approach, we demonstrate that the porphyrin layer physisorbed on graphene self-assembles into a periodic square-like arrangement. This carpet-like growth is unperturbed by the step edges of the substrate, neither in its periodicity nor in its orientation. In addition, the molecular overlayer is thermally stable and does not alter the electronic properties of graphene. Remarkably, we show that Cl4TPP does not experience a dechlorination reaction with the underlying substrate, even after postdeposition annealing temperatures as high as 550 K. Moreover, postdeposition annealing at 700 K suggests the Cl4TPP molecules desorb intact without affecting graphene’s electronic properties. In so doing, we demonstrate the effectiveness of graphene physisorbed on Ir(111) to both promote the formation and preserve the properties of chemically reactive 2D overlayers based on chlorophenyl porphyrins. These results show physisorbed graphene’s potential as a general templating material for the formation of highly reactive self-assembled 2D overlayers.

Organisation(s)
Electronic Properties of Materials
External organisation(s)
Yachay Tech University, United Arab Emirates University, Czech Academy of Sciences, National Center for Research in Energy and Materials, Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Journal
Journal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume
127
Pages
8751–8758
No. of pages
8
ISSN
1932-7447
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.3c00235
Publication date
05-2023
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
104017 Physical chemistry, 103018 Materials physics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Energy(all), Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/decoupling-chemically-active-2d-molecular-overlayers-from-the-substrate-chlorophenyl-porphyrins-on-grapheneir111(0ecc01f6-3d95-432b-92a7-b1b03ba12bf2).html