Trapping and Characterization of a Single Hydrogen Molecule in a Continuously Tunable Nanocavity.
Using inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy with the scanning tunneling microscope (STM-IETS) and density functional theory calculations (DFT), we investigated properties of a single H2 molecule trapped in nanocavities with controlled shape and separation between the STM tip and the Au (110) surface. The STM tip not only serves for the purpose of characterization, but also is directly involved in modification of chemical environment of molecule. The bond length of H2 expands in the atop cavity, with a tendency of dissociation when the gap closes, whereas it remains unchanged in the trough cavity. The availability of two substantially different cavities in the same setup allows understanding of H2 adsorption on noble metal surfaces and sets a path for manipulating a single chemical bond by design.
State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Department of Physics, Fudan University , Shanghai 200433, China.|Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California , Irvine, California 92697-4575, United States.
Hui
H
Wang
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California , Irvine, California 92697-4575, United States.
Shaowei
S
Li
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California , Irvine, California 92697-4575, United States.|Department of Physics, University Science and Technology of China , Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
Haiyan
H
He
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California , Irvine, California 92697-4575, United States.
Arthur
A
Yu
Department of Chemistry, University of California , Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States.
Freddy
F
Toledo
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California , Irvine, California 92697-4575, United States.
Zhumin
Z
Han
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California , Irvine, California 92697-4575, United States.|Department of Chemistry, University of California , Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States.
W
W
Ho
State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Department of Physics, Fudan University , Shanghai 200433, China.|Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California , Irvine, California 92697-4575, United States.
Ruqian
R
Wu
Nanocavity; electronic density of states; nanoreactors; scanning tunneling microscope; van der Waals interaction; vibrational and rotational modes