Investigation of mechanical and electronic properties of large molecules by low temperature STM

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Francesca Moresco - , Free University of Berlin (Author)
  • Gerhard Meyer - , Free University of Berlin (Author)
  • Hao Tang - , CEMES Centre d'Elaboration de Materiaux et d'Etudes Structurales (Author)
  • Christian Joachim - , CEMES Centre d'Elaboration de Materiaux et d'Etudes Structurales (Author)
  • Karl Heinz Rieder - , Free University of Berlin (Author)

Abstract

In this article we present a short review on low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (LT-STM) investigations of specially designed molecules, performed with the help of manipulation techniques. The possibilities offered by LT-STM to build structures at the atomic scale are here extended to the manipulation of complex molecules. Single porphyrin-based molecules deposited on copper substrates are investigated and manipulated by means of their interaction with the STM tip. In a constant height mode of manipulation, the tunneling current recorded during the process contains detailed information on the internal mechanics of the molecule when guided by the STM tip. Moreover, recording images in constant height mode allows to investigate the interaction between tip and molecule with high spatial resolution. Finally we show that the manipulation of the molecules on Cu(211) offers the possibility to selective modify their internal conformation realizing the principle of a conformational molecular switch.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)149-155
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of electron spectroscopy and related phenomena
Volume129
Issue number2-3
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2003
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0001-9607-8715/work/142252640