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Related Concept Videos

Adsorption Isotherms I01:29

Adsorption Isotherms I

Adsorption isotherms are mathematical models that describe how molecules in a gas or liquid phase interact with surfaces. Two of the most common isotherm models are the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, which relate to Type I monolayer chemisorption. The Langmuir model is based on four key assumptions:• Adsorption cannot exceed monolayer coverage.• All surface sites are equivalent.• Molecules adsorb only at vacant sites.• There are no interactions between adsorbed molecules.Consider the...
Adsorption of Gases on Solids01:28

Adsorption of Gases on Solids

Adsorption is a process where molecules, known as the adsorbates, accumulate on a surface, which is referred to as the adsorbent or substrate. Occurring at the solid-gas interface, this phenomenon is crucial in various scientific and industrial contexts. The reverse of adsorption is desorption.Two types of adsorptions exist: physical (physisorption) and chemical (chemisorption). Physisorption involves gas molecules held to the solid's surface by relatively weak intermolecular van der Waals...
Heterogeneous Catalysis01:22

Heterogeneous Catalysis

Heterogeneous catalysis involves a catalyst in a different phase from the reactants. It is a process where the catalyst and the reactants are in distinct phases, typically solid and gas or liquid.Most heterogeneous catalysts are metals, metal oxides, or acids. The list includes transition metals like iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), tungsten (W), silver (Ag), and copper (Cu). These metals possess partially vacant d orbitals that...
Isomerism02:43

Isomerism

Isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements. Isomers can be further classified into constitutional isomers and stereoisomers. Constitutional isomers differ in the connectivity of their constituent atoms. For example, 2-butanol and diethyl ether are constitutional isomers, as they have the same chemical formula, C4H10O, but differ in the connectivity of the carbon and oxygen atoms. Constitutional isomers have different physical and chemical...
Diels–Alder Reaction Forming Cyclic Products: Stereochemistry01:28

Diels–Alder Reaction Forming Cyclic Products: Stereochemistry

The Diels–Alder reaction is one of the robust methods for synthesizing unsaturated six-membered rings. The reaction involves a concerted cyclic movement of six π electrons: four π electrons from the diene and two π electrons from the dienophile.
Adsorption Isotherms II01:25

Adsorption Isotherms II

Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) introduced a theory in 1938 that modified Langmuir's assumptions to explain multilayer physical adsorption. This theory is applicable to Type II isotherms and provides a more realistic picture of adsorption processes. The BET theory assumes a uniform solid surface with localized adsorption sites, where adsorption at one site doesn't affect adsorption at neighboring sites. This theory also allows for the possibility of additional molecules being adsorbed on top...

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In situ FTIR Spectroscopy as a Tool for Investigation of Gas/Solid Interaction: Water-Enhanced CO2 Adsorption in UiO-66 Metal-Organic Framework
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In situ FTIR Spectroscopy as a Tool for Investigation of Gas/Solid Interaction: Water-Enhanced CO2 Adsorption in UiO-66 Metal-Organic Framework

Published on: February 1, 2020

Isomerization reactions on single adsorbed molecules.

Karina Morgenstern1

  • 1Institut für Festkörperphysik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Appelstrasse 2,D-30167 Hannover, Germany. morgenstern@fkp.uni-hannover.de

Accounts of Chemical Research
|January 14, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers used scanning tunneling microscopy to study molecular switches on metal surfaces. They demonstrated controlled isomerization of single molecules, advancing single-molecule electronics and nanoscale device development.

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In situ FTIR Spectroscopy as a Tool for Investigation of Gas/Solid Interaction: Water-Enhanced CO2 Adsorption in UiO-66 Metal-Organic Framework
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Area of Science:

  • Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
  • Materials Science
  • Physical Chemistry

Background:

  • Molecular switches are crucial for nanoelectronic devices, mimicking natural light-induced isomerization in vision.
  • Developing single-molecule switches is key for incorporating molecular units into circuits.
  • Reversible and bistable molecular switches require stable forms with interconversion triggered by external stimuli.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate single-molecule isomerization reactions on metal surfaces using scanning tunneling microscopy.
  • To explore the influence of substituents and substrates on electron-induced isomerization.
  • To demonstrate control over molecular structure and properties for nanoelectronic applications.

Main Methods:

  • Studied isomerization of chlorobenzene and azobenzene derivatives on Ag, Cu, and Au (111) surfaces.
  • Utilized scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to observe individual molecules.
  • Investigated electron-induced isomerization triggered by inelastically tunneling electrons.

Main Results:

  • Achieved irreversible cis-trans isomerization of 4-dimethyl-amino-azobenzene-4-sulfonic acid on Au(111).
  • Observed reversible cis-trans isomerization of amino-nitro-azobenzene on Au(111).
  • Demonstrated constitutional isomerization (meta-ortho and meta-para) of chlorobenzene and dichlorobenzene derivatives on various metal surfaces.

Conclusions:

  • Electron excitation on metal surfaces can induce diverse isomerization reactions in single molecules.
  • Control over single-molecule isomerization allows manipulation of geometric structure and physicochemical properties.
  • These findings advance the development of single-molecule electronics and nanoscale processes.