STM Studies of Mn$_{12}$-Ph on Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite
ORAL
Abstract
$\mbox{Mn}_{12}\mbox{O}_{12}\mbox{(}\mbox{C}_6\mbox{H}_5\mbox{COO)}_{16}$ (referred to as $\mbox{Mn}_{12}\mbox{-Ph}$) has been deposited onto Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG) which was then observed via Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM). $\mbox{Mn}_{12}\mbox{-Ph}$ displays tunneling of quantized magnetization below 3K. In other $\mbox{Mn}_{12}$ ligand variants this magnetic phenomenon can alter the electronic behavior of the molecule, making it a good candidate for a molecular logic gate. At room temperature, film formation was studied to optimize samples for subsequent low temperature studies. At 4.2K isolated objects were observed on the surface clearly distinct from the graphite lattice underneath. Spectroscopic data indicates a bias voltage dependence thought to be associated with metallic-core molecules.
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