A Single Molecule View of Bistilbene Photoisomerization on a Surface Using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy
详细信息 查看全文
- 作者：Chih-Song Tsai ; Juen-Kai Wang ; Rex T. Skodje ; and Jiing-Chyuan Lin
- 刊名：Journal of the American Chemical Society
- 出版年：2005
- 出版时间：August 10, 2005
- 年：2005
- 卷：127
- 期：31
- 页码：10788 - 10789
- 全文大小：143K
- 年卷期：v.127,no.31(August 10, 2005)
- ISSN：1520-5126
文摘
The advent of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has permitted a detailed atomic view of organic molecules adsorbed on solid surfaces. In this work, we make use of the STM to provide an unprecedented direct single-molecule perspective on the cis-trans photoisomerization of stilbene molecules within ordered monolayers physisorbed on the Ag/Ge(111)-(
3×3)R30
surface. The STM view of the molecular structure transformation upon irradiation provides direct evidence for the generally accepted one-bond-flip mechanism proposed for the photoisomerization process. We also find that the surface environment produces a profound effect on the reaction mechanism. The reaction is observed to proceed mainly through pairs of co-isomerizing molecules situated at domain boundaries. To explain these observations, we propose a mechanism whereby excitation migrates to the domain boundary and the reaction occurs through a biexciton reaction pathway.
3×3)R30 surface. The STM view of the molecular structure transformation upon irradiation provides direct evidence for the generally accepted one-bond-flip mechanism proposed for the photoisomerization process. We also find that the surface environment produces a profound effect on the reaction mechanism. The reaction is observed to proceed mainly through pairs of co-isomerizing molecules situated at domain boundaries. To explain these observations, we propose a mechanism whereby excitation migrates to the domain boundary and the reaction occurs through a biexciton reaction pathway.