Spatial correlation of photoisomerization of functionalized azobenzene molecules on a surface

ORAL

Abstract

Photoactive azobenzene molecules have great potential for nanoscale opto-mechanical applications. We report a scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) study of the time-dependence of photo-switching tetra-\emph{tert}-butyl-azobenzene (TTB-AB) molecules on Au(111). ``Switched'' molecule concentrations were measured as a function of exposure time to various incident light wavelengths until stationary concentrations were reached. We examined the spatial correlations of the photo-switching rates. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy was used to reveal the possible dependence of switching dynamics on the electronic structure of the islands. Implications for organic photoactive devices will be discussed.

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Authors

  • Niv Levy

    Dept. of Physics, UC Berkeley ; Mat. Sci. Div, Lawrence Berkeley Natl. Lab, University of California at Berkeley

  • Matthew J. Comstock

    Dept. of Physics, UC Berkeley ; Mat. Sci. Div, Lawrence Berkeley Natl. Lab

  • Jongweon Cho

    Dept. of Physics, UC Berkeley ; Mat. Sci. Div, Lawrence Berkeley Natl. Lab, Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, and Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley

  • Armen Kirakosian

    Dept. of Physics, UC Berkeley ; Mat. Sci. Div, Lawrence Berkeley Natl. Lab, Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, and Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Luis Berbil-Bautista

    Dept. of Physics, UC Berkeley ; Mat. Sci. Div, Lawrence Berkeley Natl. Lab

  • Frank Lauterwasser

    Dept. of Chemistry, UC Berkeley ; Mat. Sci. Div, Lawrence Berkeley Natl. Lab, University of California at Berkeley

  • Jean M. J. Fr\'echet

    Dept. of Chemistry, UC Berkeley ; Mat. Sci. Div, Lawrence Berkeley Natl. Lab

  • David Strubbe

    Dept. of Physics, UC Berkeley ; Mat. Sci. Div, Lawrence Berkeley Natl. Lab, Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, and Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley

  • Steven G. Louie

    Dept. of Physics, UC Berkeley ; Mat. Sci. Div, Lawrence Berkeley Natl. Lab

  • M. F. Crommie

    Dept. of Physics, UC Berkeley ; Mat. Sci. Div, Lawrence Berkeley Natl. Lab