LAUSR

A single-layer Cr3 (HITP)2 (HITP = 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaiminotriphenylene) conjugated metal-organic framework (c-MOF) is synthesized under ultrahigh vacuum conditions by substituting Cr for Ni in Ni3 (HITP)2 template. As revealed by low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and scanning tunneling spectroscopy, while codeposition of Cr atoms and 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaaminotriphenylene precursors produces irregular branches, crystalline Cr3 (HITP)2 frameworks are obtained by depositing Cr atoms to the Ni3 (HITP)2 templates. The density functional theory calculations reveal that the binding energy between Cr and HITP ligands is much higher than that for Ni, which hampers the growth of crystalline Cr3 (HITP)2 frameworks through direct coordination assembly but makes the substitution reaction energetically favorable. This work demonstrates a new strategy to prepare high-quality early-transition-metal-based c-MOFs under ultrahigh vacuum conditions.