Atomic-Scale Control of Metal-Organic Nanostructures for Electronics

Information technologies are expected to account for over 20% of global energy consumption by the year 2030. Exploiting the exotic behaviour of electrons in atomically-thin materials is one possible avenue towards more efficient technologies. To bridge the gap between promising properties and useful technologies, we need atomic-scale control over these materials. Here, scanning probe microscopy is used to study atomically thin metal-organic nanostructures. Atomic-scale control over the structural and chemical properties that govern their formation, and their technologically relevant electronic properties is demonstrated. The protocols developed in this work for controlling these properties could be translated to next-generation efficient electronics.