Recognition Processes Of Chiral Molecules On Metal Surface

Chiral optical materials play an important role in the study of non-linear optics, while building surface chirality and studying the mechanism of chiral recognition can propel chiral optical materials forward. This paper focuses on the exploring the mechanics of chiral recognition. Chiral adsorption structures have been observed by ultra high vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy (UHV-STM) after Phthalocyanine (Pc) molecules were deposited onto Cu(100) surface by molecular beam deposition technology. The combination of STM observations and density function theory (DFT) calculations suggests that chirality in this system is mainly of electronic origin, and this electronic chirality is induced by asymmetrical charge-transfer. Tracking the dynamic processes of chiral recognition excited by the STM tip and DFT calculations reveal that this chiral recognition follows the rule of’lock-and-key’ and is mainly driven by Van Der Waals interactions among the chiral molecules. Furthermore, tracking the assemblies driven by heat has indicated that polymers are formed through the chiral recognition driven by a chemical bonding.