Atomically precise control over rotation of a rare-earth molecular motor complex on Au(111)

ORAL

Abstract

Rare-earth metals are vital for many high technological applications from light emission devices to quantum information science. Here, we have developed a molecular motor formed by rare-earth metal and counterion complex that can be rotated with precise control over rotation angle and direction of rotation. In this system, a triflate counterion attached underneath a tri-blade Europium based molecular rotor acts as a pivot that enables fixed-axis rotation on Au(111) surface. The motor rotates either by thermal activation or by an electric field applied from a scanning tunneling microscope tip. Although the preferential rotation angle should be 60 degrees, an additional counterion attached to a side of the motor acting as a counterweight results in three-fold rotations with precise 120-degree steps. Moreover, attachment of side counterion permits 100% control of rotation direction and induces rotational chirality. This work demonstrates that charged counterions can be used to control dynamics of rare-earth molecular systems on materials surfaces.

*This work was supported by the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering Division. Use of the Center for Nanoscale Materials, an Office of Science user facility, was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357.

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Presenters

  • Tolulope Michael M Ajayi

    • Ohio University
    • Ohio University & Argonne National Laboratory

Authors

  • Saw W Hla

    • Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, Physics & Astronomy Department, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, United States, Center for Nanoscale Materials, ANL, IL, USA
    • Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Illinois 60439, United States
    • Ohio University
    • Ohio University and Argonne National Laboratory
    • Ohio University & Argonne National Laboratory

  • Tolulope Michael M Ajayi

    • Ohio University
    • Ohio University & Argonne National Laboratory

  • Vijay R Singh

    • Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60608, United States, Materials Science Division, ANL, Argonne, IL, USA
    • Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607
    • Univ Illinois at Chicago & MSD, ANL
    • University of Illinois at Chicago
    • Chemical Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Chicago
    • Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60608, United States, Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, IL, USA

  • Sanjoy Sarkar

    • Ohio University
    • Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University

  • Shaoze Wang

    • Ohio University
    • Ohio University & Argonne National Laboratory
    • Physics & Astronomy Department, Ohio University & Argonne National Laboratory

  • Sineth Premarathna

    • Ohio University
    • Ohio University & Argonne National Laboratory
    • Department of Physics & Astronomy, Ohio University & Argonne National Laboratory

  • Xinyue Cheng

    • Ohio University
    • Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Ohio University

  • Fahimeh Movahedifar

    • Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Ohio University

  • Larry A Curtiss

    • Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA, Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), Argonne, IL, USA.
    • MSD, ANL
    • Argonne National Laboratory
    • Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory

  • Anh T Ngo

    • Univ of Illinois at Chicago & MSD, ANL
    • University of Illinois at Chicago
    • Univeristy of Illinois at Chicago; Argonne National Laboratory
    • Argonne National Laboratory
    • Chemical Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Chicago

  • Eric Masson

    • Ohio University
    • Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Ohio University