Molecular structure elucidation with charge-state control

Shadi Fatayer, Florian Albrecht, Yunlong Zhang, Darius Urbonas, Diego Peña, Nikolaj Moll, Leo Gross

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

The charge state of a molecule governs its physicochemical properties, such as conformation, reactivity, and aromaticity, with implications for on-surface synthesis, catalysis, photoconversion, and applications in molecular electronics. On insulating, multilayer sodium chloride (NaCl) films, we controlled the charge state of organic molecules and resolved their structures in neutral, cationic, anionic, and dianionic states by atomic force microscopy, obtaining atomic resolution and bond-order discrimination using carbon monoxide (CO)–functionalized tips. We detected changes in conformation, adsorption geometry, and bond-order relations for azobenzene, tetracyanoquinodimethane, and pentacene in multiple charge states. Moreover, for porphine, we investigate the charge state–dependent change of aromaticity and conjugation pathway in the macrocycle. This work opens the way to studying chemical-structural changes of individual molecules for a wide range of charge states.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)142-145
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume365
Issue number6449
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2019
Externally publishedYes

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