Electric field-induced isomerization of azobenzene by STM

The electric field applied between the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope and a metallic surface is shown to induce the reversible trans-cis isomerization of single azobenzene derivatives adsorbed on a Au(111) surface. The investigated molecule is symmetrically equipped with four tert-butyl groups, which decouple the azobenzene core from the metallic surface, facilitating the formation of highly ordered islands. Due to the spatial extension of the electric field, it is possible to switch many molecules within the same island simultaneously.