Self-assembly of photochromic diarylethene–peptide conjugates stabilized by β-sheet formation at the liquid/graphite interface

Two-dimensional (2-D) self-assembly of diarylethene (DAE)–peptide conjugates at the octanoic acid/graphite interface was investigated by scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). The open-ring isomer of a DAE–peptide conjugate formed a stable 2-D molecular assembly with an antiparallel β-sheet structure. Quantitative analysis of surface coverage depending on concentration revealed a stronger stabilization effect of the oligopeptide than that of the alkyl group with a similar side chain length.