We discuss the occurrence of transition structures observed in molecular self-assembly at surfaces. The increasing surface coverage transitions from low coverage structures to high coverage structures are a common phenomenon. However, often observed and not perfectly understood is the formation of intermediate structures, sometimes with lower lateral density than the initial phase. We will present different examples from our recent work and discuss the possible mechanisms of intermediate phase formation. In addition, we present intermediate structures occurring due to temperature-controlled reversible phase transitions.

This mini-review summarizes the recent advances in chemical synthesis and assembly of monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles for magnetic applications. After a brief introduction to nanomagnetism, the review focuses on recent developments in solution phase syntheses and assemblies of monodisperse Fe, CoFe, FePt and SmCo₅ nanoparticles. The review further outlines the structural and magnetic properties of these nanoparticles for magnetic information and energy storage applications.

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is not only an excellent tool for the study of static geometric structures and electronic structures of surfaces due to its high spatial and energy resolution, but also a powerful tool for the study of surface dynamic behaviors, including surface diffusion, molecular rotation, and surface chemical reactions. Because of the limitation of the scanning speed, the video-STM technique cannot study the fast dynamic processes. Alternatively, a time-dependent tunneling current, I–t curve, method is employed in the research of fast dynamic processes. Usually, this method can detect about 1000 times faster dynamic processes than the traditional video-STM method. When placing the STM tip over a certain interesting position on the sample surface, the changing of tunneling current induced by the surface dynamic phenomena can be recorded as a function of time. In this article, we review the applications of the time-dependent tunneling current method to the studies of surface dynamic phenomena in recent years, especially on surface diffusion, molecular rotation, molecular switching, and chemical reaction.

The investigation of electron transport processes in nano-scale architectures plays a crucial role in the development of surface chemistry and nano-technology. Experimentally, an important driving force within this research area has been the concurrent refinements of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) techniques. The theoretical treatment of the STM operation has traditionally been based on the Bardeen and Tersoff–Hamann methods which take as input the single-particle wave functions and eigenvalues obtained from finite cluster or slabs models of the surface-tip interface. Here, we present a novel STM simulation scheme based on non-equilibrium Green’s functions (NEGF) and Wannier functions which is both accurate and very efficient. The main novelty of the scheme compared to the Bardeen and Tersoff–Hamann approaches is that the coupling to the infinite (macroscopic) electrodes is taken into account. As an illustrating example we apply the NEGF-STM method to the Si(001)-(2×1):H surface with sub-surface P doping and discuss the results in comparison to the Bardeen and Tersoff–Hamann methods.

The motion of single molecules on surfaces plays an important role in nanoscale engineering and bottom-up construction of complex devices at single molecular scale. In this article, we review the recent progress on single molecular rotors self-assembled on Au(111) surfaces. We focus on the motion of single phthalocyanine molecules on the reconstructed Au(111) surface based on the most recent results obtained by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). An ordered array of single molecular rotors with large scale is self-assembled on Au(111) surface. Combined with first principle calculations, the mechanism of the surface-supported molecular rotor is investigated. Based on these results, phthalocyanine molecules on Au (111) are a promising candidate system for the development of adaptive molecular device structures.

Functional nano-templates enable self-assembly of otherwise impossible arrangements of molecules. A particular class of such templates is that of sp² hybridized single layers of hexagonal boron nitride or carbon (graphene) on metal supports. If the substrate and the single layer have a lattice mismatch, superstructures are formed. On substrates like rhodium or ruthenium these superstructures have unit cells with ~3-nm lattice constant. They are corrugated and contain sub-units, which behave like traps for molecules or quantum dots, which are small enough to become operational at room temperature. For graphene on Rh(111) we emphasize a new structural element of small extra hills within the corrugation landscape. For the case of molecules like water it is shown that new phases assemble on such templates, and that they can be used as “nano-laboratories” where many individual processes are studied in parallel. Furthermore, it is shown that the h-BN/Rh(111) nanomesh displays a strong scanning tunneling microscopy-induced luminescence contrast within the 3 nm unit cell which is a way to address trapped molecules and/or quantum dots.

Nature produces ferromagnetic materials based on nearest neighbor exchange interaction between atomic spins. For artificially fabricated nanomagnets, it is those “small” magnetic energies, e.g. anisotropy, dipolar interaction and indirect exchange interaction that play crucial roles against the thermal fluctuation. We have developed strong capabilities to grow nanodot assemblies in ultrahigh vacuum with controllable size and density on/in both metallic and insulating templates. Based on our novel synthesis capability, we have studied artificial nanomagnets with tunable coupling strength via dimensionality control of the mediating electrons in one-dimensional (1-D), 2-D, and 3-D. We show that such kind of dimensional confinement provides a unique way to induce novel magnetic properties and to gain control of them. The research outlined in this work provides the science base to understand, modify, and manipulate the magnetic properties through dimensional confinement.

One-dimensional (1-D) semiconductor nanostructures can effectively transport electrons and photons, and are considered to be promising building blocks for future optoelectronic nanodevices. In this review, we present our recent efforts to integrate optical techniques and in situ electron microscopy for comprehensively characterizing individual 1-D optoelectronic nanostructures and nanodevices. The technical strategies and their applications in “green” emission and optical confinement in 1-D ZnO nanostructures will be introduced. We also show in situ assembly and characterization of nanostructures for optoelectronic device purposes. Using these examples, we demonstrate that the combination of optical techniques and in situ electron microscopy can be powerful for the studies of optoelectronic nanomaterials and nanodevices.