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Reversible Bond Formation in a Gold-Atom–Organic-Molecule Complex as a Molecular Switch

Fabian Mohn, Jascha Repp, Leo Gross, Gerhard Meyer, Matthew S. Dyer, and Mats Persson
Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 266102 – Published 28 December 2010
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Abstract

We report on the formation of a metal-molecule complex that can be used as a molecular switch. Using a cryogenic scanning tunneling microscope, a covalent bond was formed reversibly between a gold atom and a perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride molecule supported by a thin insulating film. The bonded and the nonbonded state of the complex were found to be associated with different charge states, and the switching between the two states was accompanied by a considerable change in the tunneling current. Atomic force microscopy molecular imaging was employed to determine precisely the atomic structure of the complex, and the experimental results were corroborated by density functional theory calculations.

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  • Received 16 September 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.266102

© 2010 The American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Fabian Mohn1,*, Jascha Repp2,1, Leo Gross1, Gerhard Meyer1, Matthew S. Dyer3, and Mats Persson3,4

  • 1IBM Research–Zurich, 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
  • 2Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany
  • 3Surface Science Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, United Kingdom
  • 4Department of Applied Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96, Göteborg, Sweden

  • *fmo@zurich.ibm.com

See Also

A Molecule-Sized Light Switch

David Harris
Phys. Rev. Focus 26, 26 (2010)

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Vol. 105, Iss. 26 — 31 December 2010

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