What Orchestrates the Self-Assembly of Glycine Molecules on Cu(100)?

The structures of two competing phases and their interrelationship in the self-organization of glycine molecules on a Cu(100) surface were clarified. Despite their similar structural energies predicted using first-principles calculation, completely different mechanisms were found to stabilize the two phases. The balance and coordination of the two mechanisms that induce a variety of self-assembled structures in this attractive system were revealed. Furthermore, the importance of the microscopic arrangement of the molecules in designing the macroscopic electronic structures was directly demonstrated.