Mechanically induced single-molecule helicity switching of graphene-nanoribbon-fused helicene on Au(111) |
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| Authors: | Ayumu Ishii Akitoshi Shiotari Yoshiaki Sugimoto |
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| Institution: | Department of Advanced Materials Science, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, 277-8561 Kashiwa Japan, Fax: +81 4 7536 4058, +81 4 7536 3997 ; Department of Physical Chemistry, Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max-Planck Society, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin Germany, |
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| Abstract: | Helicene is a functional material with chirality caused by its characteristic helical geometry. The inversion of its helicity by external stimuli is a challenging task in the advanced control of the molecular chirality. This study fabricated a novel helical molecule, specifically a pentahelicene-analogue twisted aromatic hydrocarbon fused with a graphene nanoribbon, via on-surface synthesis using multiple precursors. Noncontact atomic force microscopy imaging with high spatial resolution confirmed the helicity of the reaction products. The helicity was geometrically converted by pushing a CO-terminated tip into the twisted framework, which is the first demonstration of helicity switching at the single-molecule scale.Graphene nanoribbon-fused helicene was fabricated via on-surface synthesis. The helicity of the product was reversibly switchable by pushing a CO-terminated scanning-probe-microscopy tip into the protruding helical terminal. |
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