Abstract
Non-trivial arrangement of molecules within a molecular network complicates structure determination due to interdigitation, partial overlap, or stacking. We demonstrate that combined imaging and lateral manipulation with a scanning tunneling microscope resolves the intricate structure of a molecular network in two-dimensions in a straightforward manner. The network, formed by a monolayer of 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)-corrole molecules on Ag(111), is manipulated for the first time with single-molecule precision. Our results reveal a shingle-like packing of partially overlapping corrole molecules. Density functional theory calculations support our findings.
Highlights
Ordered chains, islands, and layers of functional molecules, are crucial to diverse fields of research including engineered surfaces [1, 2], electronics [1], catalysis [3], sensorics [4], and cell adhesion [5]
The lateral manipulation of single molecules was performed in constant current mode (10 mV, 5 nA) with the tip moved at a speed of about 0.02 nm s−1 during manipulation
We move the tip over a selected molecule, switch to manipulation parameters (5 nA) and displace the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip along a defined path; after manipulation the parameters are restored for imaging (100 pA)
Summary
Islands, and layers of functional molecules, are crucial to diverse fields of research including (nano) engineered surfaces [1, 2], electronics [1], catalysis [3], sensorics [4], and cell adhesion [5]. Corrole molecules, exhibiting low symmetry (C1) when adsorbed on metal substrates, facilitate non-trivial network structures, originating either from multiple conformational states [6, 8] or dissociation of axial ligands [7]. In such cases, a distinct structure determination of the molecular network turns out to be complicated—even when using scanning probe imaging methods that operate at sub-molecular resolution in real space. We show that by clever combination of imaging and manipulation the intricate structure of a non-trivial molecular network is resolved readily. Facilitates the unambiguous identification of different functional units in the network
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