Observation of cis-2-butene molecule on Pd(1 1 0) by cryogenic STM: Site determination using tunneling-current-induced rotation

Y. Sainoo, Y. Kim, T. Komeda, Maki Kawai, H. Shigekawa

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33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We have investigated the bonding configuration of an isolated cis-2-butene molecule (CH3-CH=CH-CH3) on the Pd(110) surface using a cryogenic STM at the sample temperature of 4.7 K. For the precise determination of the bonding site of the molecule, we utilize a novel method of rotating the molecule by injecting tunneling electrons into the molecule. We have observed the rotation of the molecule around the terminal site of a single Pd atom with hopping between four equivalent bonding sites when tunneling electrons with the energy of 170 meV were dosed. The bonding between the cis-2-molecule and the Pd(110) surface is considerably through π-bonding at the carbon double-bond, which makes bonding on the terminal site favorable. However, the analysis of the images of rotating molecule reveals that the C=C is shifted from the terminal site and located at the off-symmetry position.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)L403-L407
JournalSurface Science
Volume536
Issue number1-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003 Jun 20

Keywords

  • Alkenes
  • Palladium
  • Scanning tunneling microscopy
  • Surface electronic phenomena (work function, surface potential, surface states, etc.)
  • Tunneling

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