Single molecule motor with dipolar arms

ORAL

Abstract

One of the goals of nanotechnology is to have billions of nano-molecular machines packed in a tiny area that can operate under control. Simultaneous operation of such nano-machines requires developing a system in which the nanomachines can communicate each other. Here we investigate a double-decker class molecular motor adsorbed on Au(111) and Cu(111) surfaces using low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy in an ultrahigh vacuum environment. Our molecular motor is formed by a porphyrin based stator, and a dipole active rotor. An Eu atom is used to link the rotation and stationary parts of the motor, and therefore it acts as a single atom ball bearing. On Cu(111) surface, however, the molecules form self-assembled structures with a hexagonal pattern. The stable positions are maintained by balancing two interactions; the internal interactions between the upper and lower decks, and the dipolar interactions with the neighboring rotors. On Au(111) surface, however, we observe thermal induced rotations of the individual molecular motors at 80K. This work is a step forward in the development of molecular machines for nanoscale information transport.

–

Authors

  • Yuan Zhang

    NQPI, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, Ohio University, Athens 45701, USA

  • Kurt Baughman

    Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Lab, Argonne, Illinois, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Ohio University, Los Alamos Nationa Laboratory, National Taiwan University, University of Hamburg, Trinity College, Dublin, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, The University of Akron, NQPI, Physics and Astronomy Dept., Ohio University, GNS \& MANA Satellite, CEMES, CNRS, IMRE, A*STAR, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute (NQPI), Physics and Astronomy Dept., Ohio University, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, CEMES, CNRS, Toulouse, France, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, NQPI, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, NQPI Dept of Physics and astronomy Ohio University, Naval Research Labs, Washington DC 20375, John Carroll University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, The Ohio State University Department of Physics, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Chemical and Materials Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Wittenberg University, NQPI, Ohio University; CNM Argonne National Laboratory, APS, CNM, Argonne National Laboratory, Ohio University, Athens 45701, USA, None, Dept. of Physics, Hiram College, Physics Department, Cleveland State University, Flash Center for Computational Science, University of Chicago, Center for Energy Research, University of California San Diego; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Ohio Northern University, Ohio University Zanesville

  • Kurt Baughman

    Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Lab, Argonne, Illinois, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Ohio University, Los Alamos Nationa Laboratory, National Taiwan University, University of Hamburg, Trinity College, Dublin, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, The University of Akron, NQPI, Physics and Astronomy Dept., Ohio University, GNS \& MANA Satellite, CEMES, CNRS, IMRE, A*STAR, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute (NQPI), Physics and Astronomy Dept., Ohio University, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, CEMES, CNRS, Toulouse, France, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, NQPI, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, NQPI Dept of Physics and astronomy Ohio University, Naval Research Labs, Washington DC 20375, John Carroll University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, The Ohio State University Department of Physics, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Chemical and Materials Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Wittenberg University, NQPI, Ohio University; CNM Argonne National Laboratory, APS, CNM, Argonne National Laboratory, Ohio University, Athens 45701, USA, None, Dept. of Physics, Hiram College, Physics Department, Cleveland State University, Flash Center for Computational Science, University of Chicago, Center for Energy Research, University of California San Diego; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Ohio Northern University, Ohio University Zanesville

  • Kurt Baughman

    Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Lab, Argonne, Illinois, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Ohio University, Los Alamos Nationa Laboratory, National Taiwan University, University of Hamburg, Trinity College, Dublin, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, The University of Akron, NQPI, Physics and Astronomy Dept., Ohio University, GNS \& MANA Satellite, CEMES, CNRS, IMRE, A*STAR, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute (NQPI), Physics and Astronomy Dept., Ohio University, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, CEMES, CNRS, Toulouse, France, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, NQPI, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, NQPI Dept of Physics and astronomy Ohio University, Naval Research Labs, Washington DC 20375, John Carroll University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, The Ohio State University Department of Physics, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Chemical and Materials Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Wittenberg University, NQPI, Ohio University; CNM Argonne National Laboratory, APS, CNM, Argonne National Laboratory, Ohio University, Athens 45701, USA, None, Dept. of Physics, Hiram College, Physics Department, Cleveland State University, Flash Center for Computational Science, University of Chicago, Center for Energy Research, University of California San Diego; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Ohio Northern University, Ohio University Zanesville

  • Kurt Baughman

    Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Lab, Argonne, Illinois, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Ohio University, Los Alamos Nationa Laboratory, National Taiwan University, University of Hamburg, Trinity College, Dublin, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, The University of Akron, NQPI, Physics and Astronomy Dept., Ohio University, GNS \& MANA Satellite, CEMES, CNRS, IMRE, A*STAR, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute (NQPI), Physics and Astronomy Dept., Ohio University, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, CEMES, CNRS, Toulouse, France, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, NQPI, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, NQPI Dept of Physics and astronomy Ohio University, Naval Research Labs, Washington DC 20375, John Carroll University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, The Ohio State University Department of Physics, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Chemical and Materials Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Wittenberg University, NQPI, Ohio University; CNM Argonne National Laboratory, APS, CNM, Argonne National Laboratory, Ohio University, Athens 45701, USA, None, Dept. of Physics, Hiram College, Physics Department, Cleveland State University, Flash Center for Computational Science, University of Chicago, Center for Energy Research, University of California San Diego; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Ohio Northern University, Ohio University Zanesville

  • Kurt Baughman

    Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Lab, Argonne, Illinois, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Ohio University, Los Alamos Nationa Laboratory, National Taiwan University, University of Hamburg, Trinity College, Dublin, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, The University of Akron, NQPI, Physics and Astronomy Dept., Ohio University, GNS \& MANA Satellite, CEMES, CNRS, IMRE, A*STAR, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute (NQPI), Physics and Astronomy Dept., Ohio University, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, CEMES, CNRS, Toulouse, France, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, NQPI, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, NQPI Dept of Physics and astronomy Ohio University, Naval Research Labs, Washington DC 20375, John Carroll University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, The Ohio State University Department of Physics, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Chemical and Materials Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Wittenberg University, NQPI, Ohio University; CNM Argonne National Laboratory, APS, CNM, Argonne National Laboratory, Ohio University, Athens 45701, USA, None, Dept. of Physics, Hiram College, Physics Department, Cleveland State University, Flash Center for Computational Science, University of Chicago, Center for Energy Research, University of California San Diego; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Ohio Northern University, Ohio University Zanesville

  • Kurt Baughman

    Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Lab, Argonne, Illinois, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Ohio University, Los Alamos Nationa Laboratory, National Taiwan University, University of Hamburg, Trinity College, Dublin, Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, The University of Akron, NQPI, Physics and Astronomy Dept., Ohio University, GNS \& MANA Satellite, CEMES, CNRS, IMRE, A*STAR, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute (NQPI), Physics and Astronomy Dept., Ohio University, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, CEMES, CNRS, Toulouse, France, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, NQPI, and Department of Physics \& Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, OH, NQPI Dept of Physics and astronomy Ohio University, Naval Research Labs, Washington DC 20375, John Carroll University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, The Ohio State University Department of Physics, Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Chemical and Materials Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Tallahassee, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Wittenberg University, NQPI, Ohio University; CNM Argonne National Laboratory, APS, CNM, Argonne National Laboratory, Ohio University, Athens 45701, USA, None, Dept. of Physics, Hiram College, Physics Department, Cleveland State University, Flash Center for Computational Science, University of Chicago, Center for Energy Research, University of California San Diego; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Ohio Northern University, Ohio University Zanesville