title: Contact formation dynamics: Mapping chemical bond formation between a molecule and a metallic probe.
abstract: We present a study that maps out chemical bond formation between a Pt-inked probe and a single 1,3-cyclohexadiene (1,3-CHD) molecule on Si(100). By separating the mechanical and electronic contributions to the current during the approach to contact, we show that there are significant forces between the probe and the C=C of the molecule and we track the relaxation of the molecule, the emergence of a chemical bond feature in the LDOS, and the quenching of specific molecular vibrations during bond formation.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and the Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN), Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Borislav
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Naydenov
authors.forename: Lucile C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Teague
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Boland
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003510:Cyclohexanes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003510:Cyclohexanes; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D007854:Lead; C034005:1,3-cyclohexadiene