Directionally controlled switching of a molecular rotor

ORAL

Abstract

Directional control in the operation of molecular devices is a key hurdle in the path toward functional synthetic devices at the nanoscale. We demonstrate the operation of a molecular rotor whose rotator is decoupled from substrate interactions via a threefold symmetric stator with a single ruthenium atom at its apex, acting as a bearing around which the rotator is controlled. Five ``arms'' extend from the apex of the stator, one of which is truncated to facilitate observation of device rotations via molecular asymmetry. Molecular rotations are driven via inelastic tunneling electrons from the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope, and the direction of rotation is determined by the choice of electron injection site with respect to the internal molecular structure.

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Authors

  • H. Kersell

    Nanoscale and Quantum Phenomena Institute (NQPI), Physics and Astronomy Dept., Ohio University, NQPI, Ohio University; CNM, Argonne National Laboratory

  • 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

  • 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