Molecular chirality in surface science

Abstract

The adsorption of ever-larger organic molecules onto well-defined solid surfaces has been pursued during the last decade of surface science. One important consequence of adsorbing large molecules is a mismatch of molecular size and surface lattice, which leads frequently to mirror symmetry breaking and establishes handedness to the adsorbate complex, even if the molecule itself is not chiral. In addition, adsorption of chiral molecules, i.e., those lacking mirror symmetry before adsorption, has been performed increasingly. Such studies are not limited to the liquid–solid interface, but also cover the UHV domain. The principles of mirror symmetry breaking due to molecular adsorption are reviewed and ramifications of chiral bias in molecular layers are discussed.