Controlled manipulation of a single molecular wire along a copper atomic nanostructure

Abstract

Different stable conformations of a molecular wire along a short copper nanostructure are studied by means of low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and controlled manipulations, with the aim of investigating the electronic contact of a single molecule to a metallic pad. The molecular wire is the so-called Lander molecule, a conjugated wire group supported by four legs. Independent of its position along the copper nanostructure, the central molecular wire is always in electronic interaction with the atomic wire underneath. This effect becomes visible in the STM images depending on the orientation of the legs. By STM manipulation, the molecular wire can be precisely positioned in an electronic contact conformation at the end of the atomic wire.