Bicomponent Supramolecular Packing in Flexible Phthalocyanine Networks

Reading between the lines: Three types of weakly bonded networks are observed when octachlorozinc phthalocyanine molecules are adsorbed onto Ag(111). Insertion of a corannulene guest into these phases to give either stable lines or chessboard structures can be observed by scanning tunneling microscopy (see picture). Corannulene molecules can be removed from the bicomponent packing at 4.6 K, which leads to artificial patterning of the surface.