On-Surface Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Polymers: Rational Design and Electronic Properties

Abstract

The fabrication of long-range ordered 2D polymers directly on metal surfaces still presents a great challenge in ultra-high vacuum surface science. The structure of the polymer networks is in general predetermined by the coupling chemistry and the symmetry of the molecular precursors. However, the irreversible nature of the CC coupling reaction readily leads to the formation of defects. Over the last decade, several strategies in the on-surface synthesis have been suggested to improve the structural order. Among them, the programmed hierarchical synthesis through a sequential polymerization proved to be suitable to reduce defects in the formation of 2D polymers. This chapter provides a review on the state-of-the-art structural characterization of surface-supported 2D polymers by established surface science techniques. Further, the chapter focuses on the electronic structure of 2D polymers, which remained experimentally widely unexplored until now.