A Surface Coordination Network Based on Substrate‐Derived Metal Adatoms with Local Charge Excess

Surface safari: 9,10-Anthracenedicarbonitrile (DCA) molecules adsorbed on a Cu(111) surface can be titrated by gradual annealing of the substrate to form trigonal planar Cu(DCA)3 complexes and, ultimately, a hexagonal network (see picture) with a Cu2(DCA)3 stoichiometry. As a result of charge donation from the substrate, the coordinated Cu adatom remains electrically neutral despite donating approximately 1/3 charge to each CuN bond.