Inducing single-molecule chemical reactions with a UHV-STM: a new dimension for nano-science and technology

Atomic and molecular manipulations with the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) lead to many fascinating advances during the last decade. Recent achievements in inducing all of the basic steps of a chemical reaction with the STM at a single-molecule level open up entirely new opportunities in chemistry on the nanoscale. In this article, we review various STM-based molecular manipulation techniques and their application in inducing all elementary chemical reaction steps on surfaces. Prospects for future opportunities of single-molecule chemical engineering and their possible implications to nanoscale science and technology are discussed.