Atomic‐Precision Engineering and Visualizing of Chiral Electronic States in Nitrogen‐Doped Nanographenes
Abstract
ABSTRACT As a fundamental phenomenon in nature, chirality has been extensively studied in molecular structures; however, it remains underexplored at the electronic level. Understanding how structural chirality transfers into electronic states is crucial for uncovering the essence of many chiral effects. In this study, we report the engineering and direct visualization of chiral electronic states within an otherwise planar, achiral hexa‐ peri ‐hexabenzocoronene (HBC) framework. By employing atomically precise asymmetric nitrogen doping of HBC through on‐surface synthesis, we fabricate a C 3 ‐symmetric triaza‐HBC on Au(111). Utilizing high‐resolution scanning tunneling microscopy and non‐contact atomic force microscopy, we resolve the chiral molecular structure of triaza‐HBC confined to the surface, as well as the chiral texture of the resulting interfacial electronic states and its evolution at different energies. Density functional theory calculations reveal that these electronic chiral features arise from the molecule's intrinsic chiral orbitals, which hybridize strongly with the metal substrate while still retaining their chiral character. This study not only demonstrates a clear transfer of chirality from molecular structure to the electronic landscape but also provides a versatile platform for the rational design of chiral electronic molecules and materials.
Article Details
Authors (12)
Zhi‐Hao Li
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology CAS Research/Education Center For Excellence in Molecular Sciences Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Science (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing P. R. China
Jia‐Qi Dai
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology CAS Research/Education Center For Excellence in Molecular Sciences Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Science (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing P. R. China
Guan Luo
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS)
Ruo‐Ning Li
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology CAS Research/Education Center For Excellence in Molecular Sciences Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Science (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing P. R. China
An‐Jing Zhao
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology CAS Research/Education Center For Excellence in Molecular Sciences Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Science (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing P. R. China
Jun‐Jie Duan
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology CAS Research/Education Center For Excellence in Molecular Sciences Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Science (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing P. R. China
Yu Ge
Institute of Chemistry
Zi‐Cong Wang
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology CAS Research/Education Center For Excellence in Molecular Sciences Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Science (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing P. R. China
Wei Ji
Beijing Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Functional Materials & Micro-Nano Devices, School of Physics
Ting Chen
Dong Wang
Li‐Jun Wan
CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology CAS Research/Education Center For Excellence in Molecular Sciences Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Science (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing P. R. China