Figure 22.

Adsorption of PACs in predictable ways on the basal plane of graphite. Top: representative SFM image of PAC adsorbed in the presence of C₃₂H₆₆ on the basal plane of graphite. Middle: SFM image of a sample prepared from about twice the total concentration. The bottom layer consists of regularly ordered lamellae of the self-assembled alkane monolayer (inset at the bottom left shows a filtered image of part of the surface covered with the pure alkane monolayer). Perfectly straight PAC rods are observed on top of the alkane template layer. Bottom: proposed model for the resulting nanostructures (simplified representation, not to scale). The alkanes (thick rods) are adsorbed epitaxially on the lattice of the basal plane of the underlying graphite surface. This alkane monolayer serves as a template for orienting the rigid rods of the PAC.