On-Surface Synthesis: From Molecular Building Blocks to Functional Nanostructures

Dear Colleagues,

The controlled synthesis of molecular architectures directly on surfaces has emerged as a powerful approach for constructing well-defined nanostructures with atomic precision. On-surface synthesis is a versatile approach that enables the bottom-up fabrication of novel low-dimensional materials and covalently or coordinatively bonded systems that are unattainable through traditional solution-phase chemistry. By carefully selecting molecular precursors, substrates, and reaction conditions, researchers can create extended structures such as nanoribbons, 2D polymers, and metal–organic networks with tailored properties. These nanostructures hold significant promise for applications in molecular electronics, spintronics, quantum materials, catalysis, gas sensing, and surface functionalization.

This Special Issue offers a platform for interdisciplinary work at the frontier of surface chemistry, nanoscience, and materials engineering, with a focus on novel and impactful advancements in on-surface molecular design.

We welcome experimental and theoretical studies that address:

• Surface-assisted covalent and coordination reactions.
• Self-assembly and supramolecular templating on surfaces.
• On-surface polymerization and formation of 1D/2D nanostructures.
• Structural and electronic characterization via STM, AFM, XPS, UPS, NEXAFS, and related techniques.
• Charge transfer at organic–inorganic interfaces.
• Computational modeling of reaction mechanisms and electronic structures.

Dr. Albano Cossaro
Guest Editor

Dr. Luca Schio
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Chemistry is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• two-dimensional materials
• charge transfer at interfaces
• self-assembled monolayers
• covalent and coordination nanostructures
• surface-confined reactions