Gold–Organic Hybrids: On‐Surface Synthesis and Perspectives

Gold-organic hybrids can be prepared on gold substrates by on-surface dehalogenation of molecular precursors with multiple halogen substituents. Various contact geometries of covalent arylAu bonds are achieved by changing the halogen substituents in the bay or peri regions. Scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) investigations allow a better understanding of the structure/property relationships in various gold-aryl contacts. Recent progress on the synthesis, large-scale alignment, and STS measurement of gold-organic hybrids is described, ending with an emphasis on potential future applications, e.g., as precursors (intermediates) for the synthesis of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) on insulating surfaces, and as a model system to investigate the role of covalent arylAu bonds in electron transport through gold-GNR contacts.