Seminar by dr. Leo Gross (IBM Zurich): ' Tip-induced chemistry and charge transitions by atomic force microscopy' (Lecture)

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) with functionalized tips achieves atomic and bond-resolved resolution providing insights into structure [1], charge states [2], charge distribution [3], and bond-order relations [4] of individual molecules. By atom manipulation elusive molecules can be created. Recently, we generated the elusive carbon allotrope cyclo[18]carbon and resolved its debated structure [5]. On insulating substrates, charge-state control enables the characterization or aromaticity and structure of single molecules in different oxidation states [6], measurement of the reorganization energy [7] and excited state spectroscopy [8].

Figure: Cyclo[18]carbon created by atom manipulation on bilayer NaCl on Cu(111). Bottom row: constant-height AFM measurements with a CO functionalized tip [5].

References
[1] L. Gross et al. Science 325, 1110 (2009)
[2] L. Gross et al. Science 324, 1428 (2009)
[3] F. Mohn et al. Nat. Nano. 7, 227 (2012)
[4] L. Gross et al. Science. 337, 1326 (2012)
[5] K. Kaiser et al. Science 365, 1299 (2019)
[6] S. Fatayer et al. Science 365, 142 (2019)
[7] S. Fatayer et al. Nat. Nano. 13, 376 (2018)
[8] S. Fatayer et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 12