Azobenzene on Cu(110): adsorption site-dependent diffusion.
Azobenzene and its derivatives can undergo reversible trans-cis isomerizations when irradiated with light, making them potential candidates for optically sensitive materials and devices. The adsorption and diffusion of azobenzene on the Cu(110) surface was investigated with a variable-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. The trans-isomer was observed and found to occupy two adsorption geometries-an energetically stable and a metastable state. Diffusion occurred along the closed-packed [1 -1 0] direction of the surface, and the diffusivity for the two adsorption states was found to differ by approximately 1 order of magnitude.
Miwa
Jill A
JA
Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique-Energie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Université du Québec, Varennes, Québec J3X 1S2, Canada.
Weigelt
Sigrid
S
Gersen
Henkjan
H
Besenbacher
Flemming
F
Rosei
Federico
F
Linderoth
Trolle R
TR