We report the demonstration and analysis by combined scanning-tunneling-microscopy and optical microspectroscopy of a 2D phase change experienced by a self-assembled zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) monolayer adsorbed on graphene. To probe the intrinsic properties of individual ZnPc molecules, they are spatially confined within the pores of a self-assembled 2D matrix. This confinement allows us to track a phase change induced by annealing, which we discuss in terms of a planar-square to shuttlecock molecular transition. We show that after annealing of the adsorbed ZnPc, the exposition of Zn atoms to reactants in a supernatant solution is improved, for example, for metal-ligand formation towards 3D self-assembly.
Creutzer et al. (2026) studied this question.