Conformational self-recognition as the origin of dewetting in bistable molecular surfaces

A thin film formed by an amphiphilic catenane is shown to exhibit bistable behavior. The film is grown by self-assembly from two different solutions o nto a mica surface. Self-recognition of the solute molecules by the first m onolayer of the adsorbed molecules drives the switch between two co-conform ations, characterized by different polar character, which are nearly degene rate once deposited on the surface. The phenomenon takes the form of a wett ing/dewetting transition and propagates the intramolecular change to the me soscopic scale.