Atomically precise control of rotational dynamics in charged rare-earth complexes on a metal surface.

ABSTRACT: Complexes containing rare-earth ions attract great attention for their technological applications ranging from spintronic devices to quantum information science. While charged rare-earth coordination complexes are ubiquitous in solution, they are challenging to form on materials surfaces that would allow investigations for potential solid-state applications. Here we report formation and atomically precise manipulation of rare-earth complexes on a gold surface. Although they are composed of multiple units held together by electrostatic interactions, the entire complex rotates as a single unit when electrical energy is supplied from a scanning tunneling microscope tip. Despite the hexagonal symmetry of the gold surface, a counterion at the side of the complex guides precise three-fold rotati

SUBMITTER: Ajayi TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9588029 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature