Electronic spin detection in molecules using scanning-tunneling-microscopy-assisted electron-spin resonance

By combining the spatial resolution of a scanning-tunneling microscope (STM) with the electronic spin sensitivity of electron-spin resonance, we show that it is possible to detect the presence of localized spins on surfaces. The principle is that a STM is operated in a magnetic field, and the resulting component of the tunnel current at the Larmor (precession) frequency is measured. This component is nonzero whenever there is tunneling into or out of a paramagnetic entity. We have succeeded in obtaining spectra from free radical molecules from which the g factor of a spin entity may be inferred. For the molecules studied here, alpha,gamma-bisdiphenylene-beta-phenylallyl, g was found to be 2+/-0.1. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.