CHAPTER 8: Anchoring Metallosupramolecular Materials on Solid Substrates: Specific Surface–Molecule Interactions and Self-Assembly

Metallosupramolecular complexes are technologically appealing as they make new electronic, spin and optical states accessible. The proper design of the ligand and metal ion center can enable a wide variety of functionalities. However, for all of these properties to be efficiently exploited in functional devices, it is necessary to incorporate these systems into solid state structures. New challenges concerning the adsorption and assembly of metallosupramolecular complexes on solid surfaces have to be overcome before their integration into operational molecular electronic devices can be foreseen. Further chemical design of proper functional groups can address the issue of adsorption and assembly on a solid substrate. Towards this aim, covalent, van der Waals, and π–π interactions can be exploited to drive the desired binding and assembly. In this chapter, we will discuss the main strategies employed so far to confine metallosupramolecular complexes on surfaces giving particular attention to their specific interaction with the substrate. Examples of operational devices will also be presented to show the added value brought by a supramolecular approach into molecular optoelectronics and sensing.