Communication

Constrained Molecular Manipulation Mediated by Attractive and Repulsive Tip–Adsorbate Forces†

  1. Natalia Martsinovich1,
  2. Lev Kantorovich1,
  3. Richard H. J. Fawcett2,
  4. Martin J. Humphry2,
  5. Peter H. Beton2,*

Article first published online: 26 MAY 2008

DOI: 10.1002/smll.200700580

Issue

Small

Small

Volume 4, Issue 6, pages 765–769, June 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Martsinovich, N., Kantorovich, L., Fawcett, R. H. J., Humphry, M. J. and Beton, P. H. (2008), Constrained Molecular Manipulation Mediated by Attractive and Repulsive Tip–Adsorbate Forces. Small, 4: 765–769. doi: 10.1002/smll.200700580

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Physics, Kings College London London, WC2R 2LS (UK)

  2. 2

    School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham Nottingham NG7 2RD (UK)

*School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham Nottingham NG7 2RD (UK). Fax: (+44) 115-951-5187

  1. †

    We would like to acknowledge the computer time on the HPCx supercomputer via the Materials Chemistry Consortium and the financial support from the NANOMAN (NMP-CT-2003-505660) project and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (Grant EP/C534158/1).

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 16 JUN 2008
  2. Article first published online: 26 MAY 2008
  3. Manuscript Revised: 2 DEC 2007
  4. Manuscript Received: 24 JUL 2007

Funded by

  • NANOMAN. Grant Number: NMP-CT-2003-505660
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Grant Number: EP/C534158/1

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Keywords:

  • density functional calculations;
  • fullerenes;
  • molecular adsorption;
  • nanomanipulation;
  • STM
Thumbnail image of graphical abstract

Forcing fullerenes forward! The tip of a scanning tunneling microscope induces the manipulation of a C60 molecule (see image), displacing it across a Si surface. The results imply that the molecule is stabilized at intermediate positions between the expected adsorption sites. This is attributed to the formation of tip–molecule covalent bonds, which, in combination with molecule–substrate interactions, result in quasi-continuous constrained manipulation of the molecule.

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