Manipulation of azobenzene molecules on Au(111) using scanning tunneling microscopy

We have manipulated single azobenzene molecules using several different techniques with a variable-temperature scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Isolated azobenzene molecules were adsorbed and manipulated on the Au(111) surface at low temperature (T=34 K). STM tip voltage pulses reversibly switched the azobenzene molecule between two stable orientational configurations. A sliding technique was used to move single azobenzene molecules between stable sites on the surface, enabling construction of molecular chains. Stable sites (i.e., molecular anchor points) were created on the Au(111) surface through STM tip voltage pulses.