Self-assemblies of meso-tetraphenylporphine ligand on surfaces of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and single-walled carbon nanotubes: insights from scanning tunneling microscopy and molecular modeling.

The self-assembly of porphyrins into highly organized functional arrays supported on appropriate solid substrates is an area of research with multiple potential applications in the "bottom-up" approach to manufacturing. In order to analyze the self-assembly of meso-tetraphenylporphine (H2TPP) on the surfaces of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), we performed molecular mechanics modeling (by MM+ force field) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) imaging. Molecular modeling predicted an energetic preference of the H2TPP molecules to adsorb in monolayers on the surfaces of graphite and SWNT sidewall, rather than their stacking or separation. On graphite, the most favorable arrays were predicted to be ribbons composed of interacting parallel chains of H2TPP molecules. On the SWNT sidewall, the energetic preference pointed toward the formation of parallel and interacting long-period helixes, resulting in an almost full coverage of the SWNT surface. These preferable arrays on both carbon materials assure the interaction of every porphyrin unit with as many neighbors as possible, thus lowering the potential energy of the adsorption complexes. STM imaging results are in good agreement with molecular modeling predictions. The formation of self-assembled ribbons was a frequently observed phenomenon on the HOPG surface, while on the SWNT surface a full coverage of the exposed portion of the sidewalls was observed, suggesting the formation of interacting long-period helixes. A preferential adsorption of H2TPP molecules near graphite topographic defects was also observed.