Electron Induced Ortho-Meta Isomerization of Single Molecules

V. Simic-Milosevic, M. Mehlhorn, K.-H. Rieder, J. Meyer, and K. Morgenstern
Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 116102 – Published 12 March 2007

Abstract

A scanning tunneling microscope operating at 5 K is used to induce the isomerization of single chloronitrobenzene molecules on Cu(111) and verify the reaction. The threshold voltage of (227±7)mV for this reaction is explained based on electron-induced vibrational heating. We propose that the isomerization is initiated by simultaneous excitation of two vibrational molecular modes via inelastically tunneling electrons. This excitation results in a shift of the distribution probability of chlorine and hydrogen positions, which facilitates their mutual exchange.

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  • Received 5 May 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.116102

©2007 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

V. Simic-Milosevic1,*, M. Mehlhorn1, K.-H. Rieder1, J. Meyer2, and K. Morgenstern2

  • 1Institut für Experimentalphysik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimalle 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
  • 2Institut für Festkörperphysik, Leibniz Universität, Appelstrasse 2, 30167 Hannover, Germany

  • *Email address: simic@fhi-berlin.mpg.de

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Vol. 98, Iss. 11 — 16 March 2007

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