Scanning tunneling microscopes (STMs) open the fascinating possibility to investigate the specific properties of material on the nanoscale. The physics of nanostructures and the chemistry of single molecules are accessible. We employ this technique in order to understand the properties of nanostructures and their influence on the diffusion and reaction of molecules. In particular, our latest results on the confinements of the interface state in nanosized islands of NaCl on Ag(111) will be presented first. On this hybrid system, we investigated the diffusion of water molecules. Finally, a bistable dye molecule was adsorbed on the system and investigated with respect to its usability as a molecular switch. The results of diffusion and isomerisation are compared to studies on the pristine metal samples. Figure : False-color 3D view of Hybrid surface with 4,4'-di-hydroxy-azobenzene molecules adsorbed before and after exposure to light.

Properties of nanosized islands and their influence on unimolecular reactions

248th National Meeting (2014)

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