Thermodynamically Controlled Self‐Assembly of Two‐Dimensional Oxide Nanostructures

Seeing stars: surface-supported nanoscale oxide materials are prepared by a chemical driven self-assembly process involving a novel star-shaped [V6O12] cluster molecules (see STM image). The [V6O12] clusters are not stable units in the gas phase but form spontaneously on a metal surface. On the surface the oxide building blocks can be organized into different 2D oxide structures by adjustment of the oxygen chemical potential.