The aim of the RADSAS project is to develop efficient strategies for the directed and site-selective self-assembly of adsorbed molecules. The central aspect is to introduce site selectivity not only in the molecular building blocks but also in the interaction with the substrate surface. This shall be accomplished by fabricating surfaces with well defined nucleation sites for the subsequent molecular self-assembly process. Such templates with a regular array of nucleation centres will be realised by regular two-dimensional strain relief and dislocation networks obtained by deposition of one or two monolayers of a metal on a substrate with a different lattice constant.

These template surfaces will be used for the site-specific anchoring of a first species of molecular building blocks containing a functional group designed to specifically interact with a second molecular species. In a further self-assembly process this second species is therefore expected to selectively attach to the functionalised entity of the pre-anchored molecular building blocks. Using appropriate sequences of this type of site-selective self-assembly processes the realisation of unique and complex binary or ternary supramolecular architectures should be possible. The processes involved in the self-assembly and the properties of the resulting supramolecular structures will be studied using a wide range of experimental as well as theoretical methods.

The concept of combining anchor and connector molecules on anisotropic surfaces is highly promising when considering the prevailing factors relevant for the formation of supramolecular architectures. We are confident that using a sequence of site-selective self-assembly processes as described above the realisation of unique and complex binary or ternary supramolecular architectures with potentially useful properties will be possible.

In summary, the major goals of this collaborative research project are: