B₃N₃-Substituted Nanographene Molecules: Influence of Planarity on the Electronic Structure and Molecular Orientation in Thin Films

BN-substituted nanographene molecules are currently the focus of interest because the substitution of C–C units by isoelectronic and isosteric BN units is a straightforward way of changing the electronic properties of nanographenes. Another parameter influencing the electronic structure, orientation, and growth mode of nanographene molecules is the planarity of the molecules. The electronic structure, orientation, and film growth of the related molecules B3N3-hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (BN-HBC), B3N3-hexabenzotriphenylen (BN-HBP), and B3N3-hexabenzotriphenylen-2H (BN-HBP-2H) on Au(111) have been studied by photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). XA spectra were simulated using time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The calculation of C 1s excitation spectra allows the assignment of individual transitions and the examination of the degree of cross-linking between biphenyl units. It is shown that the planarity of the molecules distinctly affects the electronic structure, interface properties, as well as growth in thin films.