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Ariga K, Song J, Kawakami K. Molecular machines working at interfaces: physics, chemistry, evolution and nanoarchitectonics. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:13532-13560. [PMID: 38654597 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp00724g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
As a post-nanotechnology concept, nanoarchitectonics combines nanotechnology with advanced materials science. Molecular machines made by assembling molecular units and their organizational bodies are also products of nanoarchitectonics. They can be regarded as the smallest functional materials. Originally, studies on molecular machines analyzed the average properties of objects dispersed in solution by spectroscopic methods. Researchers' playgrounds partially shifted to solid interfaces, because high-resolution observation of molecular machines is usually done on solid interfaces under high vacuum and cryogenic conditions. Additionally, to ensure the practical applicability of molecular machines, operation under ambient conditions is necessary. The latter conditions are met in dynamic interfacial environments such as the surface of water at room temperature. According to these backgrounds, this review summarizes the trends of molecular machines that continue to evolve under the concept of nanoarchitectonics in interfacial environments. Some recent examples of molecular machines in solution are briefly introduced first, which is followed by an overview of studies of molecular machines and similar supramolecular structures in various interfacial environments. The interfacial environments are classified into (i) solid interfaces, (ii) liquid interfaces, and (iii) various material and biological interfaces. Molecular machines are expanding their activities from the static environment of a solid interface to the more dynamic environment of a liquid interface. Molecular machines change their field of activity while maintaining their basic functions and induce the accumulation of individual molecular machines into macroscopic physical properties molecular machines through macroscopic mechanical motions can be employed to control molecular machines. Moreover, research on molecular machines is not limited to solid and liquid interfaces; interfaces with living organisms are also crucial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsuhiko Ariga
- Research Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Japan.
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwa-no-ha, Kashiwa 277-8561, Japan
| | - Jingwen Song
- Research Center for Functional Materials, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kohsaku Kawakami
- Research Center for Functional Materials, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba 305-0044, Ibaraki, Japan
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
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2
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Yi Z, Guo Y, Hou R, Zhang Z, Gao Y, Zhang C, Xu W. Revealing the Orientation Selectivity of Tetrapyridyl-Substituted Porphyrins Constrained in Molecular "Klotski Puzzles". J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:22366-22373. [PMID: 37769215 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c03777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Understanding and controlling molecular orientations in self-assembled organic nanostructures are crucial to the development of advanced functional nanodevices. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) provides a powerful toolbox to recognize molecular orientations and to induce orientation changes on surfaces at the single-molecule level. Enormous effort has been devoted to directly controlling the molecular orientations of isolated single molecules in free space. However, revealing and further controlling molecular orientation selectivity in constrained environments remain elusive. In this study, by a combination of STM imaging/manipulations and density functional theory calculations, we report the orientation selectivity of tetrapyridyl-substituted porphyrins in response to various local molecular environments in artificially constructed molecular "Klotski puzzles" on Au(111). With the assistance of STM lateral manipulations, "sliding-block" molecules were able to enter predefined positions, and specific molecular orientations were adopted to fit the local molecular environments, in which the intermolecular interaction was revealed to be the key to achieving the eventual molecular orientation selectivity. Our results demonstrate the essential role of local molecular environments in directing single-molecule orientations, which would shed light on the design of molecular structures to control preferred orientations for further applications in molecular nanodevices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zewei Yi
- Interdisciplinary Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Guo
- Interdisciplinary Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
| | - Rujia Hou
- Interdisciplinary Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhaoyu Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuhong Gao
- Interdisciplinary Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Xu
- Interdisciplinary Materials Research Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, People's Republic of China
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Ramsauer B, Simpson GJ, Cartus JJ, Jeindl A, García-López V, Tour JM, Grill L, Hofmann OT. Autonomous Single-Molecule Manipulation Based on Reinforcement Learning. J Phys Chem A 2023; 127:2041-2050. [PMID: 36749194 PMCID: PMC9986865 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c08696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Building nanostructures one-by-one requires precise control of single molecules over many manipulation steps. The ideal scenario for machine learning algorithms is complex, repetitive, and time-consuming. Here, we show a reinforcement learning algorithm that learns how to control a single dipolar molecule in the electric field of a scanning tunneling microscope. Using about 2250 iterations to train, the algorithm learned to manipulate the molecule toward specific positions on the surface. Simultaneously, it generates physical insights into the movement as well as orientation of the molecule, based on the position where the electric field is applied relative to the molecule. This reveals that molecular movement is strongly inhibited in some directions, and the torque is not symmetric around the dipole moment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Ramsauer
- Institute
of Solid State Physics, NAWI Graz, Graz
University of Technology, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Grant J. Simpson
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, NAWI Graz, University Graz, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Johannes J. Cartus
- Institute
of Solid State Physics, NAWI Graz, Graz
University of Technology, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Andreas Jeindl
- Institute
of Solid State Physics, NAWI Graz, Graz
University of Technology, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Victor García-López
- Departments
of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, United States
| | - James M. Tour
- Departments
of Chemistry and Materials Science and NanoEngineering, and the Smalley-Curl
Institute and NanoCarbon Center, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Leonhard Grill
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, NAWI Graz, University Graz, Graz 8010, Austria
| | - Oliver T. Hofmann
- Institute
of Solid State Physics, NAWI Graz, Graz
University of Technology, Graz 8010, Austria
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4
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Schied M, Prezzi D, Liu D, Kowarik S, Jacobson PA, Corni S, Tour JM, Grill L. Chirality-Specific Unidirectional Rotation of Molecular Motors on Cu(111). ACS NANO 2023; 17:3958-3965. [PMID: 36757212 PMCID: PMC9979643 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Molecular motors have chemical properties that enable unidirectional motion, thus breaking microscopic reversibility. They are well studied in solution, but much less is known regarding their behavior on solid surfaces. Here, single motor molecules adsorbed on a Cu(111) surface are excited by voltages pulses from an STM tip, which leads to their rotation around a fixed pivot point. Comparison with calculations shows that this axis results from a chemical bond of a sulfur atom in the chemical structure and a metal atom of the surface. While statistics show approximately equal rotations in both directions, clockwise and anticlockwise, a detailed study reveals that these motions are enantiomer-specific. Hence, the rotation direction of each individual molecule depends on its chirality, which can be determined from STM images. At first glance, these dynamics could be assigned to the activation of the motor molecule, but our results show that this is unlikely as the molecule remains in the same conformation after rotation. Additionally, a control molecule, although it lacks unidirectional rotation in solution, also shows unidirectional rotation for each enantiomer. Hence, it seems that the unidirectional rotation is not specifically related to the motor property of the molecule. The calculated energy barriers for motion show that the propeller-like motor activity requires higher energy than the simple rotation of the molecule as a rigid object, which is therefore preferred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Schied
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Heinrichstraße 28, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Deborah Prezzi
- Nanoscience
Institute of the National Research Council (CNR-NANO), via G. Campi 213/a, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Dongdong Liu
- Departments
of Chemistry and Materials Science and NanoEngineering, the Smalley
Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, the Welch Institute
for Advanced Materials and the NanoCarbon Laboratory, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Stefan Kowarik
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Heinrichstraße 28, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Peter A. Jacobson
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Heinrichstraße 28, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Stefano Corni
- Nanoscience
Institute of the National Research Council (CNR-NANO), via G. Campi 213/a, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Dipartimento
di Scienze Chimiche, Università di
Padova, Padova I-35131, Italy
| | - James M. Tour
- Departments
of Chemistry and Materials Science and NanoEngineering, the Smalley
Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, the Welch Institute
for Advanced Materials and the NanoCarbon Laboratory, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Leonhard Grill
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Heinrichstraße 28, 8010 Graz, Austria
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Xiao J, Zhao W, Li L, Ma L, Tian G. Adsorption properties of a paracyclophane molecule on NaCl/Au surfaces: a first-principles study. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:6060-6066. [PMID: 36751852 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp04745d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Ultrathin insulating layers are commonly applied in scanning tunneling microscope (STM) measurements on molecular systems to preserve the intrinsic properties of a sample. We examine in the present work the adsorption properties of a double-decker 3,3-paracyclophane (PCP) molecule supported on Au surfaces with thin NaCl monolayers (MLs) as the decoupling spacer by using first-principles calculations. The interactions between the adsorbed molecule and the substrate were analyzed in terms of the adsorption energy, dispersion interactions, charge transfer, and molecular structure changes. The simulation results show that the presence of NaCl can significantly reduce the adsorption energy as well as the charge transfer between the molecule and the substrate. Detailed analysis of the differential charge density and partial charge density of states indicates that three MLs of NaCl are sufficient to decouple the molecule from the Au substrate with no significant changes in the adsorption properties of the PCP with the further increase of the thickness of the NaCl spacer. These results could be helpful for the application of the interesting double-decker molecules as functional single-molecule devices where the intrinsic molecular properties need to be preserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyin Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science & Technology and Key Laboratory for Microstructural Material Physics of Hebei Province, School of Science, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, P. R. China.
| | - Wenjing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science & Technology and Key Laboratory for Microstructural Material Physics of Hebei Province, School of Science, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, P. R. China.
| | - Li Li
- State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science & Technology and Key Laboratory for Microstructural Material Physics of Hebei Province, School of Science, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, P. R. China.
| | - Liang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science & Technology and Key Laboratory for Microstructural Material Physics of Hebei Province, School of Science, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, P. R. China.
| | - Guangjun Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science & Technology and Key Laboratory for Microstructural Material Physics of Hebei Province, School of Science, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, P. R. China.
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6
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Edmondson M, Saywell A. Molecular Diffusion and Self-Assembly: Quantifying the Influence of Substrate hcp and fcc Atomic Stacking. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:8210-8215. [PMID: 36198056 PMCID: PMC9614974 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c02895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Molecular diffusion is a fundamental process underpinning surface-confined molecular self-assembly and synthesis. Substrate topography influences molecular assembly, alignment, and reactions with the relationship between topography and diffusion linked to the thermodynamic evolution of such processes. Here, we observe preferential adsorption sites for tetraphenylporphyrin (2H-TPP) on Au(111) and interpret nucleation and growth of molecular islands at these sites in terms of spatial variation in diffusion barrier driven by local atomic arrangements of the Au(111) surface (the 22× √3 "herringbone" reconstruction). Variable-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy facilitates characterization of molecular diffusion, and Arrhenius analysis allows quantitative characterization of diffusion barriers within fcc and hcp regions of the surface reconstruction (where the in-plane arrangement of the surface atoms is identical but the vertical stacking differs). The higher barrier for diffusion within fcc locations underpins the ubiquitous observation of preferential island growth within fcc regions, demonstrating the relationship between substrate-structure, diffusion, and molecular self-assembly.
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Bera A, Henkel S, Mieres‐Perez J, Andargie Tsegaw Y, Sanchez‐Garcia E, Sander W, Morgenstern K. Surface Diffusion Aided by a Chirality Change of Self-Assembled Oligomers under 2D Confinement. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202212245. [PMID: 36056533 PMCID: PMC9827888 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202212245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Chirality switching of self-assembled molecular structures is of potential interest for designing functional materials but is restricted by the strong interaction between the embedded molecules. Here, we report on an unusual approach based on reversible chirality changes of self-assembled oligomers using variable-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy supported by quantum mechanical calculations. Six functionalized diazomethanes each self-assemble into chiral wheel-shaped oligomers on Ag(111). At 130 K, a temperature far lower than expected, the oligomers change their chirality even though the molecules reside in an embedded self-assembled structure. Each chirality change is accompanied by a slight center-of-mass shift. We show how the identical activation energies of the two processes result from the interplay of the chirality change with surface diffusion, findings that open the possibility of implementing various functional materials from self-assembled supramolecular structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijit Bera
- Physikalische Chemie IRuhr-Universität BochumUniversitätsstr. 15044801BochumGermany
| | - Stefan Henkel
- Organic Chemistry IIRuhr-Universität BochumUniversitätsstr. 15044801BochumGermany
| | - Joel Mieres‐Perez
- Computational BiochemistryUniversität Duisburg-EssenUniversitätsstr. 245141EssenGermany
| | | | - Elsa Sanchez‐Garcia
- Computational BiochemistryUniversität Duisburg-EssenUniversitätsstr. 245141EssenGermany
| | - Wolfram Sander
- Organic Chemistry IIRuhr-Universität BochumUniversitätsstr. 15044801BochumGermany
| | - Karina Morgenstern
- Physikalische Chemie IRuhr-Universität BochumUniversitätsstr. 15044801BochumGermany
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8
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Bera A, Henkel S, Mieres-Perez J, Tsegaw YA, Sanchez-Garcia E, Sander W, Morgenstern K. Surface Diffusion Aided by a Chirality Change of Self‐Assembled Oligomers under 2D Confinement. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202212245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Abhijit Bera
- Midnapore College Physics Raja Bajar Main Rd. 721101 Midnapore INDIA
| | - Stefan Henkel
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum: Ruhr-Universitat Bochum Organic Chemistry II GERMANY
| | - Joel Mieres-Perez
- University of Duisburg-Essen: Universitat Duisburg-Essen Computational Biochemistry GERMANY
| | | | - Elsa Sanchez-Garcia
- University of Duisburg-Essen: Universitat Duisburg-Essen Computational Biochemistry GERMANY
| | - Wolfram Sander
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum: Ruhr-Universitat Bochum Organic Chemistry II GERMANY
| | - Karina Morgenstern
- Ruhr-Universität Bochum: Ruhr-Universitat Bochum Physical Chemistry I GERMANY
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9
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Vilhena JG, Pawlak R, D'Astolfo P, Liu X, Gnecco E, Kisiel M, Glatzel T, Pérez R, Häner R, Decurtins S, Baratoff A, Prampolini G, Liu SX, Meyer E. Flexible Superlubricity Unveiled in Sidewinding Motion of Individual Polymeric Chains. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2022; 128:216102. [PMID: 35687435 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.128.216102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A combination of low temperature atomic force microcopy and molecular dynamic simulations is used to demonstrate that soft designer molecules realize a sidewinding motion when dragged over a gold surface. Exploiting their longitudinal flexibility, pyrenylene chains are indeed able to lower diffusion energy barriers via on-surface directional locking and molecular strain. The resulting ultralow friction reaches values on the order of tens of pN reported so far only for rigid chains sliding on an incommensurate surface. Therefore, we demonstrate how molecular flexibility can be harnessed to realize complex nanomotion while retaining a superlubric character. This is in contrast with the paradigm guiding the design of most superlubric nanocontacts (mismatched rigid contacting surfaces).
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Affiliation(s)
- J G Vilhena
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
- Departamento de Física Teórica de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rémy Pawlak
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Philipp D'Astolfo
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xunshan Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Sci-tech University, 314423 Hangzhou, China
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Enrico Gnecco
- Marian Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Jagiellonian University, Lojasiewicza 11, 30-348 Krakow, Poland
| | - Marcin Kisiel
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thilo Glatzel
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rúben Pérez
- Departamento de Física Teórica de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
- Condensed Matter Physics Center (IFIMAC), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Robert Häner
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Silvio Decurtins
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alexis Baratoff
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Giacomo Prampolini
- Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organo Metallici, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (ICCOM-CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Shi-Xia Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ernst Meyer
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 82, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
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Leis A, Cherepanov V, Voigtländer B, Tautz FS. Nanoscale tip positioning with a multi-tip scanning tunneling microscope using topography images. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2022; 93:013702. [PMID: 35104957 DOI: 10.1063/5.0073059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Multi-tip scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is a powerful method to perform charge transport measurements at the nanoscale. With four STM tips positioned on the surface of a sample, four-point resistance measurements can be performed in dedicated geometric configurations. Here, we present an alternative to the most often used scanning electron microscope imaging to infer the corresponding tip positions. After the initial coarse positioning is monitored by an optical microscope, STM scanning itself is used to determine the inter-tip distances. A large STM overview scan serves as a reference map. Recognition of the same topographic features in the reference map and in small scale images with the individual tips allows us to identify the tip positions with an accuracy of about 20 nm for a typical tip spacing of ∼1μm. In order to correct for effects such as the non-linearity of the deflection, creep, and hysteresis of the piezoelectric elements of the STM, a careful calibration has to be performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Leis
- Peter Grünberg Institut (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Vasily Cherepanov
- Peter Grünberg Institut (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Bert Voigtländer
- Peter Grünberg Institut (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - F Stefan Tautz
- Peter Grünberg Institut (PGI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
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11
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Onoda J, Khademi A, Wolkow RA, Pitters J. Ohmic Contact to Two-Dimensional Nanofabricated Silicon Structures with a Two-Probe Scanning Tunneling Microscope. ACS NANO 2021; 15:19377-19386. [PMID: 34780687 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c05777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We used multiprobe scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to fabricate and electrically characterize nanostructures on Si surfaces. We overcame resistive contacts by using field evaporation to clean tip apexes in order to create Ohmic contact with the Si surface states on a Si substrate. A two-probe (2P-) STM with Ohmic contact allowed for measurement at very low bias, limiting conduction through space-charge layer and bulk states. The Ohmic 2P-STM measurement clarified the surface conductivity of the Si(111)-(7 × 7) surface. We also confirmed that Ohmic 2P-STM can be replaced with more convenient Ohmic one-probe STM for the conductance measurements on the Si surface. We prepared nanostructures using STM lithography to define electronically isolated two-dimensional (2D) regions with various aspect ratios. Their surface conduction properties are described well by the conventional sheet model, proving the diffusive 2D conduction on the Si surface. Constrictions and breaks in 2D structures were also evaluated. Ohmic 2P-STM will be helpful for the investigation of exploratory atomic-scale circuitry or cutting-edge materials sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo Onoda
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2J1, Canada
| | - Ali Khademi
- Metrology Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Robert A Wolkow
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2J1, Canada
- Quantum Silicon, Inc., Edmonton Alberta T6G 2M9, Canada
| | - Jason Pitters
- Nanotechnology Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M9, Canada
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12
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Chen Y, Huang M, Zhou Q, Li Z, Meng J, Pan M, Ye X, Liu T, Chang S, Xiao S. Regio- and Steric Effects on Single Molecule Conductance of Phenanthrenes. NANO LETTERS 2021; 21:10333-10340. [PMID: 34874740 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c03565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Here, six phenanthrene (the smallest arm-chair graphene nanoribbon) derivatives with dithiomethyl substitutions at different positions as the anchoring groups were synthesized. Scanning tunneling microscopy break junction technique was used to measure their single molecule conductances between gold electrodes, which showed a difference as much as 20-fold in the range of ∼10-2.82 G0 to ∼10-4.09 G0 following the trend of G2,7 > G3,6 > G2,6 > G1,7 > G1,6 > G1,8. DFT calculations agree well with this measured trend and indicate that the single molecule conductances are a combination of energy alignment, electronic coupling, and quantum effects. This significant regio- and steric effect on the single molecule conductance of phenanthrene model molecules shows the complexity in the practice of graphene nanoribbons as building blocks for future carbon-based electronics in one hand but also provides good conductance tunability on the other hand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Chen
- The Education Ministry Key Lab of Resource Chemistry, Joint International Research Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
| | - Mingzhu Huang
- The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, the Institute of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430081, China
| | - Qinghai Zhou
- The Education Ministry Key Lab of Resource Chemistry, Joint International Research Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
| | - Zhen Li
- The Education Ministry Key Lab of Resource Chemistry, Joint International Research Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
| | - Jing Meng
- The Education Ministry Key Lab of Resource Chemistry, Joint International Research Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
| | - Mengyuan Pan
- The Education Ministry Key Lab of Resource Chemistry, Joint International Research Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
| | - Xiang Ye
- Key Laboratory of Opto-electrical Material and Device, Department of Physics, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
| | - Taifeng Liu
- The Education Ministry Key Lab of Resource Chemistry, Joint International Research Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
| | - Shuai Chang
- The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, the Institute of Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430081, China
| | - Shengxiong Xiao
- The Education Ministry Key Lab of Resource Chemistry, Joint International Research Laboratory of Resource Chemistry, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Functional Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
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Li X, Niu K, Zhang J, Yu X, Zhang H, Wang Y, Guo Q, Wang P, Li F, Hao Z, Xu C, Tang Y, Xu Z, Lu S, Liu P, Xue G, Wei Y, Chi L. Direct transformation of n-alkane into all- trans conjugated polyene via cascade dehydrogenation. Natl Sci Rev 2021; 8:nwab093. [PMID: 34858613 PMCID: PMC8566175 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwab093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Selective C(sp3) −H activation is of fundamental importance in processing alkane feedstocks to produce high-value-added chemical products. By virtue of an on-surface synthesis strategy, we report selective cascade dehydrogenation of n-alkane molecules under surface constraints, which yields monodispersed all-trans conjugated polyenes with unprecedented length controllability. We are also able to demonstrate the generality of this concept for alkyl-substituted molecules with programmable lengths and diverse functionalities, and more importantly its promising potential in molecular wiring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuechao Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Kaifeng Niu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Junjie Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Xiaojuan Yu
- Institute of Functional Interfaces, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 76344, Germany
| | - Haiming Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yuemin Wang
- Institute of Functional Interfaces, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 76344, Germany
| | - Qing Guo
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Pengdong Wang
- Vacuum Interconnected Nanotech Workstation (Nano-X), Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Fangsen Li
- Vacuum Interconnected Nanotech Workstation (Nano-X), Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zhengming Hao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Chaojie Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Yanning Tang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Zhichao Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shuai Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Peng Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Guigu Xue
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yen Wei
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Lifeng Chi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon Based Functional Materials & Devices, Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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14
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Esch F, Lechner BAJ. The molecular wagon that stays on track. Science 2020; 370:912. [PMID: 33214266 DOI: 10.1126/science.abe5959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Friedrich Esch
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Barbara A J Lechner
- Department of Chemistry and Catalysis Research Center, Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany.
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