title: Single molecular orientation switching of an endohedral metallofullerene.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Electronics, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo 152-8552, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuhsuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasutake
authors.forename: Zujin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: Hisanori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Majima
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D037741:Fullerenes; D013725:Terbium; D002244:Carbon