Observation of Collective Photoswitching in Free‐Standing TATA‐Based Azobenzenes on Au(111) |
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Authors: | Talina R. Rusch,Alexander Schlimm,Nicolai R. Krekiehn,Tobias Tellkamp, imon Budz k,Denis Jacquemin,Felix Tuczek,Rainer Herges,Olaf M. Magnussen |
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Affiliation: | Talina R. Rusch,Alexander Schlimm,Nicolai R. Krekiehn,Tobias Tellkamp,Šimon Budzák,Denis Jacquemin,Felix Tuczek,Rainer Herges,Olaf M. Magnussen |
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Abstract: | Light‐induced transitions between the trans and cis isomer of triazatriangulenium‐based azobenzene derivatives on Au(111) surfaces were observed directly by scanning tunneling microscopy, allowing atomic‐scale studies of the photoisomerization kinetics. Although the azobenzene units in these adlayers are free‐standing and spaced at uniform distances of 1.26 nm, their photoswitching depends on the isomeric state of the surrounding molecules and, specifically, is accelerated by neighboring cis isomers. These collective effects are supported by ab initio calculations indicating that the electronic excitation preferably localizes on the n–π* state of trans isomers with neighboring cis azobenzenes. |
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Keywords: | cooperative effects functional self-assembled monolayers in situ STM isomers photoisomerization |
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