Observation of individual molecules trapped on a nanostructured insulator

Preprint

22 November 2005

preprint
Published by arXiv in arXiv

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.physics/0511187

Abstract

For the first time, ordered polar molecules confined in monolayer-deep rectangular pits produced on an alkali halide surface by electron irradiation have been resolved at room temperature by non-contact atomic force microscopy. Molecules self-assemble in a specific fashion inside pits of width smaller than 15 nm. By contrast no ordered aggregates of molecules are observed on flat terraces. Conclusions regarding nucleation and ordering mechanisms are drawn. Trapping in pits as small as 2 nm opens a route to address single molecules.

Keywords

NANOSTRUCTURED INSULATOR
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
INDIVIDUAL MOLECULES
MOLECULES TRAPPED
SINGLE MOLECULES
NUCLEATION
TRAPPED
PITS

All Related Versions

Version 1, 2005-11-22, ArXiv
Published version: Nano Letters, 4 (11), 2185.

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