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Constructing an Array of Anchored Single-Molecule Rotors on Gold Surfaces

L. Gao, Q. Liu, Y. Y. Zhang, N. Jiang, H. G. Zhang, Z. H. Cheng, W. F. Qiu, S. X. Du, Y. Q. Liu, W. A. Hofer, and H.-J. Gao
Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 197209 – Published 7 November 2008
Physics logo See Synopsis: Spinning on a gold atom

Abstract

Molecular rotors with a fixed off-center rotation axis have been observed for single tetra-tert-butyl zinc phthalocyanine molecules on an Au(111) surface by a scanning tunneling microscope at LN2 temperature. Experiments and first-principles calculations reveal that we introduce gold adatoms at the surface as the stable contact of the molecule to the surface. An off-center rotation axis is formed by a chemical bonding between a nitrogen atom of the molecule and a gold adatom at the surface, which gives them a well-defined contact while the molecules can have rotation-favorable configurations. Furthermore, these single-molecule rotors self-assemble into large scale ordered arrays on Au(111) surfaces. A fixed rotation axis off center is an important step towards the eventual fabrication of molecular motors or generators.

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  • Received 10 July 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.197209

©2008 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Spinning on a gold atom

Published 10 November 2008

The rotation of individual large molecules adsorbed onto a gold surface has been observed with a scanning tunneling microscope.

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Authors & Affiliations

L. Gao1, Q. Liu1, Y. Y. Zhang1, N. Jiang1, H. G. Zhang1, Z. H. Cheng1, W. F. Qiu2, S. X. Du1, Y. Q. Liu2, W. A. Hofer3, and H.-J. Gao1,*

  • 1Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
  • 2Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
  • 3Surface Science Research Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, United Kingdom

  • *hjgao@aphy.iphy.ac.cn

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Issue

Vol. 101, Iss. 19 — 7 November 2008

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