On the energetics of conformational switching of molecules at and close to room temperature

Ditze S, Stark MW, Buchner F, Aichert A, Jux N, Luckas N, Görling A, Hieringer W, Hornegger J, Steinrück HP, Marbach H (2014)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2014

Journal

Original Authors: Ditze S., Stark M., Buchner F., Aichert A., Jux N., Luckas N., Görling A., Hieringer W., Hornegger J., Steinrück H.-P., Marbach H.

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Book Volume: 136

Pages Range: 1609-1616

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1021/ja411884p

Abstract

We observe and induce conformational switching of individual molecules via scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at and close to room temperature. 2H-5,10,15,20-Tetrakis-(3,5-di-tert-butyl)-phenylporphyrin adsorbed on Cu(111) forms a peculiar supramolecular ordered phase in which the molecules arrange in alternating rows, with two distinct appearances in STM which are assigned to concave and convex intramolecular conformations. Around room temperature, frequent bidirectional conformational switching of individual molecules from concave to convex and vice versa is observed. From the temperature dependence, detailed insights into the energy barriers and entropic contributions of the switching processes are deduced. At 200 K, controlled STM tip-induced unidirectional switching is possible, yielding an information storage density of 4.9 × 10 bit/inch. With this contribution we demonstrate that controlled switching of individual molecules at comparably high temperatures is possible and that entropic effects can be a decisive factor in potential molecular devices at these temperatures. © 2014 American Chemical Society.

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APA:

Ditze, S., Stark, M.W., Buchner, F., Aichert, A., Jux, N., Luckas, N.,... Marbach, H. (2014). On the energetics of conformational switching of molecules at and close to room temperature. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 136(4), 1609-1616. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ja411884p

MLA:

Ditze, Stefanie, et al. "On the energetics of conformational switching of molecules at and close to room temperature." Journal of the American Chemical Society 136.4 (2014): 1609-1616.

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