Preparing and regulating a bi-stable molecular switch by atomic manipulation

Reference:

Sakulsermsuk, S., Palmer, R. E. and Sloan, P. A., 2012. Preparing and regulating a bi-stable molecular switch by atomic manipulation. Journal of Physics-Condensed Matter, 24 (39), 394014.

Related documents:

Official URL:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/24/39/394014

Related URLs:

• http://iopscience.iop.org/0953-8984/labtalk-article/50919

Abstract

We present a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) investigation into the influence of the STM tip on the adsorption site switching of polychlorinatedbiphenyl (PCB) molecules on the Si(111)-7 × 7 surface at room temperature. From an initially stable adsorption configuration, atomic manipulation by charge injection from the STM tip prepared a new bi-stable configuration that switched between two bonding arrangements. No switching rate bias dependence was found for + 1.0 to + 2.2 V. Assuming a thermally driven switching process we find that the measured energy barriers to switching are influenced by the exact location of the STM tip by more than 10%. We propose that this energy difference is due the dispersion interaction between the tip and the molecule.

Export

Actions (login required)