Inducing the controlled rotation of single o-MeO-DMBI molecules anchored on Au(111)

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Abstract

A key step towards building single molecule machines is to control the rotation of molecules and nanostructures step by step on a surface. Here, we used the tunneling electrons coming from the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope to achieve the controlled directed rotation of complex o-MeO-DMBI molecules. We studied the adsorption of single o-MeO-DMBI molecules on Au(111) by scanning tunneling microscopy at low temperature. The enantiomeric form of the molecule on the surface can be determined by imaging the molecule by STM at high bias voltage. We observed by lateral manipulation experiments that the molecules chemisorb on the surface and are anchored on Au(111) with an oxygen-gold bond via their methoxy‑group. Driven by inelastic tunneling electrons, o-MeO-DMBI molecules can controllably rotate, stepwise and unidirectional, either clockwise or counterclockwise depending on their enantiomeric form.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)177-182
Number of pages6
JournalSurface science
Volume678
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2018
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0001-9607-8715/work/142252627

Keywords

Keywords

  • Adsorption, Manipulation, Molecular rotor, Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), Voltage pulses