Switching of an Azobenzene-Tripod Molecule on Ag(111).

The trans-cis isomerization makes azobenzene (AB) a robust molecular switch. Once adsorbed to a metal, however, the switching is inefficient or absent due to rapid excited-state quenching or loss of the trans-cis bistability. We find that tris-[4-(phenylazo)-phenyl]-amine is a rather efficient switch on Ag(111).

Surface control of alkyl chain conformations and 2D chiral amplification.

Trioctyl-functionalized triazatriangulenium (trioctyl-TATA) deposited on Au(111) and Ag(111) surfaces by electrospray ionization was investigated using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy. The molecule surprisingly adsorbs with gauche rather than anti conformations of the octyl groups. We observed chiral amplification in the islands.