Molecule-molecule versus molecule-substrate interactions in the assembly of oligothiophenes at surfaces

A joint experimental and theoretical approach for the study of the assembly of end-substituted oligothiophenes at surfaces with different polarities is presented. The studies of the self-assembly at surfaces of oligothiophenes end-capped with oligo(ethylene oxide) or hexyl groups show that the molecule-molecule interactions and the molecule-substrate interactions are both at work and lead to well-defined nanostructures, from two dimensional ultrathin regular layers to one dimensional fibrillar objects.