Abstract
We have used scanning tunneling microscopy to investigate the structure and photoswitching behavior of azobenzene molecules functionalized with bulky spacer groups and adsorbed onto Au(111). We find that positioning tert-butyl legs in a canted arrangement on the azobenzene phenyl rings quenches photoisomerizability of the molecule on Au(111). Addition of cyano groups at the para positions changes the molecular self-assembly significantly, but does not alter the quenched photoisomerizability. This behavior likely arises from a combination of molecule-surface interactions, molecule-molecule interactions, and alteration of azobenzene electronic structure resulting from the position-specific addition of tert-butyl groups.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 234707 |
Journal | JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS |
Volume | 133 |
Issue number | 23 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 21 2010 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Physics and Astronomy
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry