Single molecular orientation switching of an endohedral metallofullerene.

Yasutake, Yuhsuke; Shi, Zujin; Okazaki, Toshiya; Shinohara, Hisanori; Majima, Yutaka · Nano Lett · 2005

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The single molecular orientation switching of the Tb@C82 endohedral metallofullerene has been studied by using low-temperature ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). An octanethiol self-assembled monolayer (SAM) was introduced between Tb@C82 and the Au111 substrate to control the thermal rotational states of Tb@C82. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) of Tb@C82 on an octanethiol SAM at 13 K demonstrated hysteresis including negative differential conductance (NDC). This observed hysteresis and NDC is interpreted in terms of a switching of the Tb@C82 molecular orientation caused by the interaction between its electric dipole moment and an external electric field.

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