Article Title

STM manipulation of molecular moulds on metal surfaces

Authors

Miao Yu, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Wei Xu, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Youness Benjalal, Nanoscience group, CEMES-CNRS, 29 rue Jeanne Marvig, 31055 Toulouse, France Faculté des Sciences Ben MʼSik, Université Hassan II-Mohammédia, BP 7955, Sidi Othman, Casablanca, Morocco
Regis Barattin, Nanoscience group, CEMES-CNRS, 29 rue Jeanne Marvig, 31055 Toulouse, France
Erik Lægsgaard, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Ivan Stensgaard, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Mohamed Hliwa, Nanoscience group, CEMES-CNRS, 29 rue Jeanne Marvig, 31055 Toulouse, France Faculté des Sciences Ben MʼSik, Université Hassan II-Mohammédia, BP 7955, Sidi Othman, Casablanca, Morocco
Xavier Bouju, Nanoscience group, CEMES-CNRS, 29 rue Jeanne Marvig, 31055 Toulouse, France
André Gourdon, Nanoscience group, CEMES-CNRS, 29 rue Jeanne Marvig, 31055 Toulouse, France
Christian Joachim, Nanoscience group, CEMES-CNRS, 29 rue Jeanne Marvig, 31055 Toulouse, France
Trolle R. Linderoth, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Flemming Besenbacher, Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

Keywords

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), molecular Landers, adsorption, STM manipulation, molecular moulding

Abstract

Molecular Landers are a class of compounds containing an aromatic board as well as bulky side groups which upon adsorption of the molecule on a surface may lift the molecular board away from the substrate. Different molecular Landers have extensively been studied as model systems for nanomachines and the formation of molecular wires, as well as for their function as !°molecular moulds!±, i.e., acting as template by accommodating metal atoms underneath their aromatic board. Here, we investigate the adsorption of a novel Lander molecule 1,4-bis(4-(2,4-diaminotriazine)phenyl)-2,3,5,6-tetrakis(4-tert-butylphenyl)benzene (DAT, C H N ) on Cu(110) and Au(111) surfaces under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions. By means 64 68 10 of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) imaging and manipulation, we characterize the morphology and binding geometries of DAT molecules at terraces and step edges. On the Cu(110) surface, various contact con? gurations of individual DAT Landers were formed at the step edges in a controlled manner, steered by STM manipulation, including lateral translation, rotation, and pushing molecules to an upper terrace. The diffusion barrier of single DAT molecules on Au(111) is considerably smaller than on Cu(110). The DAT Lander is specially designed with diamino-triazine side groups making it suitable for future studies of molecular self-assembly by hydrogen-bonding interactions. The results presented here are an important guide to the choice of substrate for future studies using this compound.

Graphical Abstract

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-009-9024-9

Publisher

Tsinghua University Press

Recommended Citation

Miao Yu,Wei Xu,Youness Benjalal,Regis Barattin,Erik Lægsgaard,Ivan Stensgaard,Mohamed Hliwa,Xavier Bouju,André Gourdon,Christian Joachim,Trolle R. Linderoth,Flemming Besenbacher, STM manipulation of molecular moulds on metal surfaces. NanoRes.2009, 2: 254-259