Scheil, K. and Gopakumar, T. G. and Bahrenburg, J. and Temps, F. and Maurer, R. J. and Reuter, K. and Berndt, R. (2016) Switching of an Azobenzene-Tripod Molecule on Ag(111). Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2016 (7), pp. 2080-2084. ACS Publications. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b01011 ISSN 1948-7185
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Abstract
The trans-cis isomerization makes azobenzene (AB) a robust molecular switch. Once adsorbed to a metal, however, the switching is inefficient or absent due to rapid excited-state quenching or loss of the trans-cis bistability. We find that tris-[4-(phenylazo)-phenyl]-amine is a rather efficient switch on Ag(111). Using scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy at submolecular resolution along with density functional theory calculations, we show that the switching process is no trans-cis isomerization but rather a reorientation of the N-N bond of an AB unit. It proceeds through a twisting motion of the azo-bridge that leads to a lateral shift of a phenyl ring. Thus, the role of the Ag substrate is ambivalent. While it suppresses the original bistability of the azobenzene units, it creates a new one by inducing a barrier for the rotation of the N-N bond.
Item URL in elib: | https://elib.dlr.de/104446/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Document Type: | Article | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Title: | Switching of an Azobenzene-Tripod Molecule on Ag(111) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Authors: |
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Date: | 19 May 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Refereed publication: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Open Access: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gold Open Access: | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In SCOPUS: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
In ISI Web of Science: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Volume: | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
DOI : | 10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b01011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Page Range: | pp. 2080-2084 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: | ACS Publications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
ISSN: | 1948-7185 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status: | Published | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keywords: | trans-cis isomerization, azobenzene, Ag(111), scanning tunneling microscopy, atomic force microscopy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Research field: | Aeronautics, Space and Transport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Program: | Aeronautics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Program Themes: | fixed-wing aircraft | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Research area: | Aeronautics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Program: | L AR - Aircraft Research | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Research theme (Project): | L - Laser Research and Technology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location: | Stuttgart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Institutes and Institutions: | Institute of Technical Physics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited By: | Bahrenburg, Julia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited On: | 21 Jun 2016 13:29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Modified: | 31 Jul 2019 20:01 |
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