Broken symmetry of an adsorbed molecular switch determined by scanning tunneling spectroscopy

Abstract

An asymmetric turn: Scanning tunneling spectroscopy has been used to analyze the structure of tris[4-(phenylazo)phenyl)]amine on a Au(111) surface. A degenerate marker state serves as a sensitive probe for the structure of the adsorbed molecules.

Keywords: azobenzenes; density functional calculations; gold; symmetry breaking; tunneling spectroscopy.