AVS 47th International Symposium
    Processing at the Nanoscale/NANO 6 Wednesday Sessions
       Session NS+NANO6-WeP

Paper NS+NANO6-WeP2
Attractive Mode Molecular Manipulation at Room Temperature

Wednesday, October 4, 2000, 11:00 am, Room Exhibit Hall C & D

Session: Poster Session
Presenter: P.H. Beton, University of Nottingham, UK
Authors: M.J. Humphry, University of Nottingham, UK
P.H. Beton, University of Nottingham, UK
P. Moriarty, University of Nottingham, UK
Correspondent: Click to Email
We have investigated the manipulation of C60 on Si(100)-2x1 using the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) operating ultra-high vacuum at room temperature. During repulsive manipulation the tip follows a quasi-periodic trajectory as the molecule is displaced through integer multiples of the surface lattice constant and the tip is partially retracted during the manipulation process. A clear voltage threshold and characteristic tip response for this mode of manipulation is established. In addition molecules are observed to move through a displacement of up to three lattice constants (1.1nm) towards the STM tip due to an attractive interaction. This effect is observed over a wide range of tunneling parameters and is related to 'streaking' in STM images in which molecules may be dragged across the Si surface. The mechanism for this behaviour will be discussed together with the potential for the controlled assembly of molecular nanostructures.