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Updated: May 27, 2026

Light-driven Molecular Motors on Surfaces for Single Molecular Imaging
Published on: March 13, 2019
A molecular switch based on current-driven rotation of an encapsulated cluster within a fullerene cage
Tian Huang1, Jin Zhao, Min Feng
1Department of Physics and Astronomy and Petersen Institute of NanoScience and Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, United States.
Abstract:
By scanning tunneling microscopy imaging and electronic structure theory, we investigate a single-molecule switch based on tunneling electron-driven rotation of a triangular Sc3N cluster within an icosahedral C80 fullerene cage among three pairs of enantiomorphic configurations. Bias-dependent action spectra and modeling implicate the antisymmetric stretch vibration of Sc3N cluster as the gateway for energy transfer from the tunneling electrons into the cluster rotation. Hierarchical switching of conductivity among multiple stationary states while maintaining a constant molecular shape, offers an advantage for the integration of endohedral fullerene-based single-molecule switches into multiple logic state molecular devices.
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