Dynamics of oligo(phenylene-ethynylene) self-assembled monolayers on Au(111)

Hairong Wu, Kai Sotthewes, Alejandro Méndez Ardoy, Tibor Kudernac, Jurriaan Huskens, Aufrid T.M. Lenferink, Cornelis Otto, Peter Manfred Schön, Gyula J. Vancso, Henricus J.W. Zandvliet

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Oligo(phenylene-ethynylene), self-assembled monolayers on Au(1 1 1) have been studied with scanning tunneling microscopy. The oligo(phenylene-ethynylene) molecules are adsorbed in a flat-lying orientation. Time-resolved scanning tunneling microscopy measurements reveal that the molecules continuously switch back and forth between two nearly degenerate configurations. The energy difference between the two configurations is 22 ± 5 meV and the activation barrier for the transition from the low-energy configuration to the high-energy configuration is 0.65 ± 0.03 eV. A statistical analysis of the residence times revealed that the switching process is stochastic. We propose that the two level switching is due to a torsional mode of the central phenyl ring.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)45-48
Number of pages4
JournalChemical physics letters
Volume614
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Keywords

  • METIS-306239
  • IR-92982

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