Self-patterned molecular photoswitching in nanoscale surface assemblies.
Photomechanical switching (photoisomerization) of molecules at a surface is found to strongly depend on molecule-molecule interactions and molecule-surface orientation. Scanning tunneling microscopy was used to image photoswitching behavior in the single-molecule limit of tetra-tert-butyl-azobenzene molecules adsorbed onto Au(111) at 30 K. Photoswitching behavior varied strongly with surface molecular island structure, and self-patterned stripes of switching and nonswitching regions were observed having approximately 10 nm pitch. These findings can be summarized into photoswitching selection rules that highlight the important role played by a molecule's nanoscale environment in determining its switching properties.
Levy
Niv
N
Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720-7300, USA.
Comstock
Matthew J
MJ
Cho
Jongweon
J
Berbil-Bautista
Luis
L
Kirakosian
Armen
A
Lauterwasser
Frank
F
Poulsen
Daniel A
DA
Fréchet
Jean M J
JM
Crommie
Michael F
MF
D000327:Adsorption; D000465:Algorithms; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D008027:Light; D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling / Q000379:methods; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D006046:Gold