Force-Activated Isomerization of a Single Molecule
Qi J, Gao Y, Jia H, Richter M, Huang L, Cao Y, Yang H, Zheng Q, Berger R, Liu J, Lin X, Lu H, Cheng Z, Ouyang M, Feng X, Du S, Gao HJ (2020)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2020
Journal
Book Volume: 142
Pages Range: 10673-10680
Journal Issue: 24
DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c00192
Abstract
Understanding and controlling isomerization at the single molecular level should provide new insight into the molecular dynamics and design guidelines of functional devices. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has been demonstrated to be a powerful tool to study isomerization of single molecules on a substrate, by either electric field or inelastic electron tunneling mechanisms. A similar molecular isomerization process can in principle be induced by mechanical force; however, relevant study has remained elusive. Here, we demonstrate that isomerization of a N,N-dimethylamino-dianthryl-benzene molecule on Ag(100) can be mechanically driven by the STM tip. The existence of an out-of-plane dimethylamino group in the molecule is found to play a pivotal role in the isomerization process by providing a steric hindrance effect for asymmetric interaction between the STM tip and the molecule. This underlying mechanism is further confirmed by performing molecular dynamics simulations, which show agreement with experimental results. Our work opens the opportunity to manipulate the molecular configuration on the basis of mechanical force.
Involved external institutions
Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) / 中国科学院
China (CN)
Technische Universität Dresden
Germany (DE)
Renmin University of China
China (CN)
University of Maryland
United States (USA) (US)
China (CN)
Technische Universität Dresden
Germany (DE)
Renmin University of China
China (CN)
University of Maryland
United States (USA) (US)
How to cite
APA:
Qi, J., Gao, Y., Jia, H., Richter, M., Huang, L., Cao, Y.,... Gao, H.-J. (2020). Force-Activated Isomerization of a Single Molecule. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 142(24), 10673-10680. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.0c00192
MLA:
Qi, Jing, et al. "Force-Activated Isomerization of a Single Molecule." Journal of the American Chemical Society 142.24 (2020): 10673-10680.
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