Invited Paper SS+2D+HC-TuM3
On-surface Synthesis by Atom Manipulation Studied with Atomic Force Microscopy

Tuesday, October 22, 2019, 8:40 am, Room A220-221

Elusive molecules are created using atomic manipulation with a combined atomic force/scanning tunneling microscope (AFM/STM). Employing high-resolution AFM with functionalized tips provides insights into the structure, geometry, aromaticity, charge states and bond-order relations of the molecules created and into the reactions performed [1].

We created radicals, diradicals [2], non-Kekulé molecules [3] and polyynes [4] and studied their structural and electronic properties. We recently showed that the reorganization energy of a molecule on an insulator can be determined [5]. In addition, we expanded the toolbox for the synthesis of molecules by atomic manipulation, demonstrating reversible cyclisation reactions [2], skeletal rearrangements [4] and controlled reactions on insulating substrates by electron attachment/detachment [6].

On insulating substrates we can control the charge state of molecules and resolve changes within molecular geometry, adsorption and aromaticity related to the oxidation state.

References:

[1] L. Gross et al. Angew. Chem Int. Ed 57, 3888(2018)

[2] B. Schuler et al. Nat. Chem.8, 220 (2016)

[3] N. Pavliček et al. Nat. Nano.12, 308 (2017)

[4] N. Pavliček et al. Nat. Chem.10, 853 (2018)

[5] S. Fatayer et al. Nat. Nano.13, 376 (2018)

[6] S. Fatayer et al. Phys. Rev. Lett.121, 226101 (2018)