Substrate-modulation effect in on-surface synthesis

The substrate-modulation effect permeates throughout the realm of surface chemistry, particularly in the field of on-surface reactions. A comprehensive understanding of the interactions between molecules and substrates is crucial for the selective synthesis of designed graphene-based materials. In this review, we examine the substrate-modulation effect of surface-assisted reactions, focusing on the reaction mechanisms. We begin by elucidating how the substrates influence various process of the surface-assisted reaction, including adsorption, migration, and reaction of molecules. Additionally, substrates act as charge donors and acceptors to facilitate charge transfer between substrates and molecules, thereby tuning the electronic structure of the molecules.