Spatially-controlled complex molecules and their applications

• Published in: International reviews in physical chemistry Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 557 - 590
• Main Authors: Chang, Yuan-Pin, Horke, Daniel A., Trippel, Sebastian, Küpper, Jochen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 02.10.2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: alignment and orientation; chirality; Confinement; conformer selection; controlled molecules; Dynamics; Electric fields; enantiomer separation; Inhomogeneous electric fields; Isomers; Molecular dynamics; Molecular structure; Molecules; Physical chemistry; Quantum physics; quantum-state selection; reaction dynamics and kinetics; Separation; structure-function relationship
• ISSN: 0144-235X; 1366-591X
• DOI: 10.1080/0144235X.2015.1077838

The understanding of molecular structure and function is at the very heart of the chemical and molecular sciences. Experiments that allow for the creation of structurally pure samples and the investigation of their molecular dynamics and chemical function have developed tremendeously over the last few decades, although 'there's plenty of room at the bottom' for better control as well as further applications. Here, we describe the use of inhomogeneous electric fields for the manipulation of neutral molecules in the gas-phase, i.e. for the separation of complex molecules according to size, structural isomer, and quantum state. For these complex molecules, all quantum states are strong-field seeking, requiring dynamic fields for their confinement. Current applications of these controlled samples are summarised and interesting future applications discussed.