Reversible and Efficient Light-Induced Molecular Switching on an Insulator Surface

Jaekel S, Richter A, Lindner R, Bechstein R, Nacci C, Hecht S, Kühnle A, Grill L (2018)

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2018

Journal

ACS nano American Chemical Society

Publisher: AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Book Volume: 12

Pages Range: 1821-1828

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b08624

Abstract

Prototypical molecular switches such as azobenzenes exhibit two states, i.e., trans and cis, with different characteristic physical properties. In recent years various derivatives were investigated on metallic surfaces. However, bulk insulators as supporting substrate reveal important advantages since they allow electronic decoupling from the environment, which is key to control the switching properties. Here, we report on the light-induced isomerization of an azobenzene derivative on a bulk insulator surface, in this case calcite (10 (1) over bar4), studied by atomic force microscopy with submolecular resolution. Surprisingly, cis isomers appear on the surface already directly after preparation, indicating kinetic trapping. The photoisomerization process is reversible, as the use of different light sources results in specific molecular assemblies of each isomer. The process turns out to be very efficient and even comparable to molecules in solution, which we assign to the rather weak molecular interaction with the insulator surface, in contrast to metals.

Authors with CRIS profile

Simon Jaekel Lehrstuhl für Physikalische Chemie II

Involved external institutions

SCHOTT AG DE Germany (DE) Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz AT Austria (AT) Universität Bielefeld DE Germany (DE) Freie Universität Berlin DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Jaekel, S., Richter, A., Lindner, R., Bechstein, R., Nacci, C., Hecht, S.,... Grill, L. (2018). Reversible and Efficient Light-Induced Molecular Switching on an Insulator Surface. ACS nano, 12(2), 1821-1828. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.7b08624

MLA:

Jaekel, Simon, et al. "Reversible and Efficient Light-Induced Molecular Switching on an Insulator Surface." ACS nano 12.2 (2018): 1821-1828.

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