Rotation of a Single Molecule Within a Supramolecular Bearing

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 281; no. 5376; pp. 531 - 533
• Main Authors: Gimzewski, J. K., Joachim, C., Schlittler, R. R., Langlais, V., Tang, H., Johannsen, I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 24.07.1998; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atomic interactions; Atoms; Chemistry; Climate; Condensed Matter; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; General, apparatus; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Microscopes; Molecular biology; Molecular rotation; Molecular Structure; Molecules; Observation; Organic Chemistry; Other; Physics; Precision engineering, watch making; Propellers; Reaction Time; Rotation; Rotational dynamics; Rotational states; Surface physical chemistry; Translation; Tunnels; Monolayer; Hydrocarbon; Precision engineering; Theoretical study; Transition metal; Crystal face; Experimental study; Micromachine; Condensed benzenic compound; Molecular rotation; Scanning tunneling microscopy; Simulation; Supramolecular structure; Models; Miniaturization; Copper
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.281.5376.531

Experimental visualization and verification of a single-molecule rotor operating within a supramolecular bearing is reported. Using a scanning tunneling microscope, single molecules were observed to exist in one of two spatially defined states laterally separated by 0.26 nanometers. One was identified as a rotating state and the other as an immobilized state. Calculations of the energy barrier for rotation of these two states show that it is below the thermal energy at room temperature for the rotating state and above it for the immobilized state.