Selective immobilization of nanoparticles on surfaces by molecular recognition using simple multiple H-bonding functionalities

Using a complementary pair of simple alkylthiolates with hydrogen‐bonding moieties, functionalized Au55 clusters could be selectively deposited onto self‐assembled monolayers on gold that carry the opposite functionality. The deposition can be readily controlled by the medium in which the clusters are dissolved and by the density of the functionalities in the self‐assembled monolayers, and yields single clusters as well as two‐dimensional cluster assemblies on the surface. The clusters are sufficiently strongly bound to give structures that are stable at ambient temperature, and that allow scanning tunneling spectroscopy on single clusters on the surface.