Design and manipulation of a minimalistic hydrocarbon nanocar on Au(111)

0574994 - FZÚ 2024 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Barragán, A. - Nicolás-Garcia, T. - Lauwaet, K. - Sánchez Grande, Ana - Urgel, J. I. - Bjork, J. - Perez, E.M. - Écija, D.
Design and manipulation of a minimalistic hydrocarbon nanocar on Au(111).
Angewandte Chemie - International Edition. Roč. 62, č. 6 (2023), č. článku e202212395. ISSN 1433-7851. E-ISSN 1521-3773
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : molecular machinery * nanocars * Scanning Tunneling Microscopy * [4+2] cycloaddition
OECD category: Organic chemistry
Impact factor: 16.6, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202212395

Nanocars are carbon-based single-molecules with a precise design that facilitates their atomic-scale control on a surface. The rational design of these molecules is important in atomic and molecular-scale manipulation to advance the development of molecular machines, as well as for a better understanding of self assembly, diffusion and desorption processes. Here, we introduce the molecular design and construction of a collection of minimalistic nanocars. They feature an anthracene chassis and four benzene derivatives as wheels. After sublimation and adsorption on an Au(111) surface, we show controlled and fast manipulation of the nanocars along the surface using the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The mechanism behin d the successful displacement is the induced dipole created over the nanocar by the STM tip. We utilized carbon monoxide functionalized tips both to avoid decomposi tion and accidentally picking the nanocars up during the manipulation. This strategy allowed thousands of ma neuvers to successfully win the Nanocar Race II championship.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0349463