Real-Time Observation of Molecular Motion on a Surface

The laser-induced movement of CO molecules over a platinum surface was followed in real time by means of ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy. Because the CO molecules bound on different surface sites exhibit different C-O stretch vibrational frequencies, the site-to-site hopping, triggered by excitat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2005-12, Vol.310 (5755), p.1790-1793
Main Authors: Backus, Ellen H. G, Eichler, Andreas, Kleyn, Aart W, Bonn, Mischa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Carbon monoxide
Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties
Exact sciences and technology
Fluence
Heat
Infrared radiation
Kinetics
Lasers
Line spectra
Molecular dynamics
Molecular rotation
Molecules
Observation
Physics
Pumps
Rotation
Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces
Spectroscopy
Surfaces and interfaces
thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties)
Terraces
Vibration
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Summary:The laser-induced movement of CO molecules over a platinum surface was followed in real time by means of ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy. Because the CO molecules bound on different surface sites exhibit different C-O stretch vibrational frequencies, the site-to-site hopping, triggered by excitation with a laser pulse, can be determined from subpicosecond changes in the vibrational spectra. The unexpectedly fast motion--characterized by a 500-femtosecond time constant--reveals that a rotational motion of the CO molecules, rather than pure translation, is required for this diffusion process. This conclusion is corroborated by density functional theory calculations.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1120693