Nanoscale structural control over multicomponent molecular thin films: From 2D to 3D

The formation of self-assembled molecular networks (SAMNs) is an important strategy to nanostructure surfaces. While most studies have focused on monocomponent systems, the real power of this self-assembly approach is its potential to form complex multifunctional patterns, involving the use of multiple molecular systems at once. An additional level of control, and complexity, is offered by the formation of multilayer systems. In this PhD thesis, we will explore various ways to control the outcome of complex self-assembly processes, both at the monolayer and multilayer level, with special attention to the role both thermodynamics and kinetic processes play, and approaches to balance them.