Small seeing: supramolecular aggregates from solution to solid films

This thesis work concerns the study of supramolecular systems based on aromatic species, both in solution and on solid-state films. Although the discussion deals with substantially different topics, creating devices based on organic materials is common to all the work. The first chapter concerns a study of solvent-driven aggregation of chiral porphyrins, with particular attention to the role played by the metal in the core of the macrocycle. The goal is to obtain systems that can be used as active layers in chemical sensors. Specifically, these studies were carried out within the INITIO project (INnovative chemIcal sensors for enanTioselective detectIon of chiral pOllutants, https://www.project-initio.eu/interview-with-prof-paolesse/), aimed at creating chemical sensors capable of discriminating between the two enantiomers of chiral compounds such as pesticides or other pollutants. Understanding the aggregation mechanism is necessary to tune the system's properties. The second chapter concerns the preparation and morphological characterization of corroles films, molecules belonging to the porphyrinoid class. These materials are used as active materials in catalysis and chemical sensors. Corroles films were grown on gold substrates with gradually increasing control, starting from Drop Casting to Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) depositions. The films were characterized from a morphological point of view on different scales, adapting the calculation of statistical quantities to morphological parameters capable of describing the degree of order of the film of molecules. The third chapter concerns studies conducted within the HEM2PD (High-Electron Mobility 2D Polymers, https://www.ism.cnr.it/it/ricerca/progetti/item/273-polimeri-2dad-alta-mobilita-elettronica-p2dame.html) project with the aim of creating an Organic Field-Effect Transistor (OFET), based on an organic polymer of triangulene derivatives. The project concerns the growth of polymer films on gold, its transfer onto a suitable substrate and the device's construction. This part of the thesis mainly involves the characterization of polymer films using a Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM). The 2 results achieved in the other project phases by different research groups are only mentioned. Since the thesis deals with different topics in the three chapters, each has its introduction and conclusion.