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Atomically precise control of rotational dynamics in charged rare-earth complexes on a metal surface.
- Source :
-
Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2022 Oct 22; Vol. 13 (1), pp. 6305. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Oct 22. - Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Complexes containing rare-earth ions attract great attention for their technological applications ranging from spintronic devices to quantum information science. While charged rare-earth coordination complexes are ubiquitous in solution, they are challenging to form on materials surfaces that would allow investigations for potential solid-state applications. Here we report formation and atomically precise manipulation of rare-earth complexes on a gold surface. Although they are composed of multiple units held together by electrostatic interactions, the entire complex rotates as a single unit when electrical energy is supplied from a scanning tunneling microscope tip. Despite the hexagonal symmetry of the gold surface, a counterion at the side of the complex guides precise three-fold rotations and 100% control of their rotational directions is achieved using a negative electric field from the scanning probe tip. This work demonstrates that counterions can be used to control dynamics of rare-earth complexes on materials surfaces for quantum and nanomechanical applications.<br /> (© 2022. The Author(s).)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2041-1723
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Nature communications
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 36273005
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33897-3