The present investigation demonstrates the effect of electric field on the phase behavior of surface adsorbed, hydrogen-bonded, bi-component supramolecular networks. Three types of low density supramolecular co-crystals were fabricated by varying the ratio of individual components in solution. Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at the solution-graphite interface, we demonstrate that a reversible transition between a well-ordered co-crystalline and a disordered phase-separated state can be achieved by simply switching the polarity of the voltage applied to the substrate. The complex stimulus responsive phase behavior was found to critically depend on the solution stoichiometry. Such externally triggered reversible phase transitions in multicomponent systems may have potential utilities in the fabrication of functional organic thin films.

Stimuli responsive phase behavior in hydrogen-bonded bicomponent supramolecular networks

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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