title: Nanoelectrical analysis of single molecules and atomic-scale materials at the solid/liquid interface.
abstract: Evaluating the built-in functionality of nanomaterials under practical conditions is central for their proposed integration as active components in next-generation electronics. Low-dimensional materials from single atoms to molecules have been consistently resolved and manipulated under ultrahigh vacuum at low temperatures. At room temperature, atomic-scale imaging has also been performed by probing materials at the solid/liquid interface. We exploit this electrical interface to develop a robust electronic decoupling platform that provides precise information on molecular energy levels recorded using in situ scanning tunnelling microscopy/spectroscopy with high spatial and energy resolution in a high-density liquid environment. Our experimental findings, supported by ab initio electronic structure calculations and atomic-scale molecular dynamics simulations, reveal direct mapping of single-molecule structure and resonance states at the solid/liquid interface. We further extend this approach to resolve the electronic structure of graphene monolayers at atomic length scales under standard room-temperature operating conditions.
authors.affiliation: IBM Research-Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nirmalraj
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Physics and Energy, University of Limerick, Ireland [2] Materials and Surface Science Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA-Nanociencia), Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molina-Ontoria
authors.affiliation: IBM Research-Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marilyne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA-Nanociencia), Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Nazario
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.affiliation: IBM Research-Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gotsmann
authors.affiliation: IBM Research-Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Riel