Influence of local chemical environment and external perturbations of porphyrins on surfaces.

This article reviews the influence of local chemical environments on the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of porphyrinic molecules adsorbed on surfaces, with a focus on their potential applications in molecular electronics. It summarizes how substrate type, adsorption sites, intermolecular interactions, and external stimuli such as voltage pulses and temperature affect porphyrin conformations, tautomerization, and electronic states. The review highlights experimental and theoretical studies demonstrating control over molecular switching, metalation, and self-assembly on metallic and graphene surfaces, emphasizing the role of adatoms and surface reconstructions like the Au(111) herringbone. Future perspectives include deeper exploration of surface effects, molecular decoupling, and controlled switching mechanisms to advance porphyrin-based devices for data storage, quantum computing, and nanoscale circuitry.