Redox-active dendrimers at molecular printboards

This thesis describes the controlled immobilization of molecules by supramolecular
chemistry and self-assembly. Unlike physisorption or covalent synthesis, the binding kinetics and thermodynamics can be controlled at will, and the immobilization is reversible. A disadvantage is that, in general, the binding strength of a single supramolecular interaction is relatively weak, but this drawback can be overcome by using multivalent interactions. To obtain functional materials it is a prerequisite that molecules form stable assemblies which can exist in at least two different states that can be controlled by external stimuli.