Doublet-Singlet-Doublet Transition in a Single Organic Molecule Magnet On-Surface Constructed with up to 3 Aluminum Atoms.

Soe, We-Hyo; Robles, Roberto; de Mendoza, Paula; Echavarren, Antonio M; Lorente, Nicolas; Joachim, Christian · Nano Lett · 2021

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Starting from a long aza-starphene neutral and nonmagnetic organic molecule, a single-molecule magnet is on-surface constructed using up to 3 light nonmagnetic aluminum (Al) atoms. Seldom observed in solution with transition-metal atoms and going from 1 to 3 Al coordinated atoms, the doublet-singlet-doublet transition is easily on-surface accessible using the scanning tunneling microscope single-atom and single-molecule manipulations on a gold(111) surface. With 3 coordinated Al atoms, the lateral vibration modes of the Al<sub>3</sub>-aza-starphene molecule magnet are largely frozen. Using the Kondo states, this opens the observation of the in-phase Al vertical atom vibrations and out-of-phase central phenyl vibrations.