Single molecular orientation switching of an endohedral metallofullerene.
The single molecular orientation switching of the Tb@C82 endohedral metallofullerene has been studied by using low-temperature ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). An octanethiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM) was introduced between Tb@C82 and the Au111 substrate to control the thermal rotational states of Tb@C82. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) of Tb@C82 on an octanethiol SAM at 13 K demonstrated hysteresis including negative differential conductance (NDC). This observed hysteresis and NDC is interpreted in terms of a switching of the Tb@C82 molecular orientation caused by the interaction between its electric dipole moment and an external electric field.
Yasutake
Yuhsuke
Y
Department of Physical Electronics, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan.
Shi
Zujin
Z
Okazaki
Toshiya
T
Shinohara
Hisanori
H
Majima
Yutaka
Y
D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D003461:Crystallography; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D004581:Electronics; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013725:Terbium / Q000737:chemistry
D037741:Fullerenes; D013725:Terbium; D002244:Carbon