Changing stations in single bistable rotaxane molecules under electrochemical control.
We have directly observed electrochemically driven single-molecule station changes within bistable rotaxane molecules anchored laterally on gold surfaces. These observations were achieved by employing molecular designs that significantly reduced the mobility and enhanced the assembly of molecules in orientations conducive to direct measurement using scanning tunneling microscopy. The results reveal molecular-level details of the station changes of surface-bound bistable rotaxane molecules, correlated with their different redox states. The mechanical motions within these mechanically interlocked molecules are influenced by their interactions with the surface and with neighboring molecules, as well as by the conformations of the dumbbell component.
Ye
Tao
T
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.
Kumar
Ajeet S
AS
Saha
Sourav
S
Takami
Tomohide
T
Huang
Tony J
TJ
Stoddart
J Fraser
JF
Weiss
Paul S
PS
D004563:Electrochemistry; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D016252:Microscopy, Scanning Tunneling; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009038:Motion; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D043862:Rotaxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
D043862:Rotaxanes