On the Possibility of Exploring Tip-Molecule Interactions with STM Experiments

We present a theory for analyzing residence times of single molecules in a fixed detection area of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The approach is developed for one-dimensional molecule diffusion and can be extended to two dimensions by using the same methodology. Explicit results are derived...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Electrochemical Society 2022-09, Vol.169 (9), p.96515
Main Authors: Schiel, Christoph, Rahe, Philipp, Maass, Philipp
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
fluctuation analysis
interpeak time distribution
molecule diffusion coefficient
residence time distribution
tip-molecule interaction
tunneling current fluctuations
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Summary:We present a theory for analyzing residence times of single molecules in a fixed detection area of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). The approach is developed for one-dimensional molecule diffusion and can be extended to two dimensions by using the same methodology. Explicit results are derived for an harmonic attractive and repulsive tip-molecule interaction. Applications of the theory allows one to estimate the type and strength of interactions between the STM tip and the molecule. This includes the possibility of an estimation of molecule-molecule interaction when the tip is decorated by a molecule. Despite our focus on STM, this theory can analogously be applied to other experimental probes that monitor single molecules.
ISSN:0013-4651
1945-7111
DOI:10.1149/1945-7111/ac915e