Inducing the controlled rotation of single o-MeO-DMBI molecules anchored on Au(111)
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
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 language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 177-182 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Surface science |
Volume | 678 |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2018 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
ORCID | /0000-0001-9607-8715/work/142252627 |
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Keywords
Research priority areas of TU Dresden
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Adsorption, Manipulation, Molecular rotor, Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), Voltage pulses