Atomically precise control of rotational dynamics in charged rare-earth complexes on a metal surface

Tolulope Michael Ajayi, Vijay Singh, Kyaw Zin Latt, Sanjoy Sarkar, Xinyue Cheng, Sineth Premarathna, Naveen K. Dandu, Shaoze Wang, Fahimeh Movahedifar, Sarah Wieghold, Nozomi Shirato, Volker Rose, Larry A. Curtiss, Anh T. Ngo, Eric Masson () and Saw Wai Hla ()
Additional contact information
Tolulope Michael Ajayi: Argonne National laboratory
Vijay Singh: Argonne National laboratory
Kyaw Zin Latt: Argonne National laboratory
Sanjoy Sarkar: Ohio University
Xinyue Cheng: Ohio University
Sineth Premarathna: Argonne National laboratory
Naveen K. Dandu: Argonne National laboratory
Shaoze Wang: Argonne National laboratory
Fahimeh Movahedifar: Ohio University
Sarah Wieghold: Argonne National laboratory
Nozomi Shirato: Argonne National laboratory
Volker Rose: Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National laboratory
Larry A. Curtiss: Argonne National laboratory
Anh T. Ngo: Argonne National laboratory
Eric Masson: Ohio University
Saw Wai Hla: Argonne National laboratory

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Complexes containing rare-earth ions attract great attention for their technological applications ranging from spintronic devices to quantum information science. While charged rare-earth coordination complexes are ubiquitous in solution, they are challenging to form on materials surfaces that would allow investigations for potential solid-state applications. Here we report formation and atomically precise manipulation of rare-earth complexes on a gold surface. Although they are composed of multiple units held together by electrostatic interactions, the entire complex rotates as a single unit when electrical energy is supplied from a scanning tunneling microscope tip. Despite the hexagonal symmetry of the gold surface, a counterion at the side of the complex guides precise three-fold rotations and 100% control of their rotational directions is achieved using a negative electric field from the scanning probe tip. This work demonstrates that counterions can be used to control dynamics of rare-earth complexes on materials surfaces for quantum and nanomechanical applications.

Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-33897-3

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33897-3

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