Controlled growth of a bicomponent supramolecular network by the sergeants & soldiers principle

The co-deposition of 1,4-di(4′,4′′-pyridyl)benzene and 1,4-di(4′,4′′-bromophenyl)benzene on Si(111)–B surface leads to the formation of a highly regular self-assembly. The formation of this network has been investigated by STM and has been elucidated in the light of sergeants & soldiers principle due to halogen bonding on a silicon surface.