Control of molecular rotors by selection of anchoring sites

Hyo Won Kim, M. Han, H. J. Shin, S. Lim, Y. Oh, Kaoru Tamada, M. Hara, Y. Kim, M. Kawai, Young Kuk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We demonstrate a new method to switch on and off the rotational motion of a long-chain molecule by controlling the bonding geometry between the molecule and a substrate. An azobenzene derivative molecule adsorbed on a Au(111) surface is immobile only when its three rotation centers, comprised of two phenyl rings and a nitrogen-nitrogen bond, are located at hollow sites of the Au(111) surface, as observed by scanning tunneling microscopy. Rotational motion can be activated by exciting the vibrational modes and inducing hopping motion away from the immobile site with a voltage pulse.

Original languageEnglish
Article number146101
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume106
Issue number14
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 8 2011

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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