Self-assembly and ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cyclic conjugated molecules on highly ordered pyrolytic graphite

Cyclic conjugated monomers comprising cyclopentadithiophene-vinylene trimers and their polymers on HOPG are observed using STM and AFM. ROMP of the monomers is performed using a Grubbs catalyst. Their STM images exhibit single chains of planar polymers, whereas their AFM images show elongation of the polymer chains on HOPG.