Dynamics of topological phonon boundary modes in polymer chains and supramolecular lattices on surfaces

Abstract

Abstract In topological band theory, non-trivial phonon boundary modes feature desirable properties for atomically-precise technologies, such as robustness against defects, waveguiding and one-way transport. Topological phonon properties remain to be studied both theoretically and experimentally in molecular materials at the atomistic level, such as polymer chains and self-assembled supramolecular lattices, especially under thermal fluctuations. Here we show by means of molecular simulations that polymer chains and supramolecular lattices following a modified Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) phonon model, express robust topological phonon boundary modes under thermal fluctuations. Our results may find applications in the realization of Hall effect phonon analogues in macromolecular and supramolecular systems at interfaces.