Monitoring molecular self-assembly in real time at the solid/liquid interface is challenging. This paper demonstrates that graphene devices can act as highly sensitive detectors for in-situ monitoring of molecular self-assembly dynamics. Using a photochromic molecule and UV irradiation to trigger self-assembly on graphene, the researchers tracked the process by measuring changes in the device's current. This electrical readout method provides high sensitivity and a potential for nanosecond time-scale resolution, offering a powerful tool to investigate 2D molecular self-organization.

Marco Gobbi, Agostino Galanti, Marc-Antoine Stoeckel, Bjorn Zyskas, Sara Bonacchi, Stefan Hecht, Paolo Samorì