Fast Molecular Compression by a Hyperthermal Collision Gives Bond-Selective Mechanochemistry

Area of Science:

• Surface science
• Physical chemistry
• Molecular dynamics

Background:

• Understanding molecular reactions on surfaces is crucial for catalysis and materials science.
• Investigating non-thermal reaction pathways can unlock novel chemical transformations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate bond-selective reactions in complex organic molecules induced by low-energy ion collisions.
• To explore the potential of translational kinetic energy to access thermally inaccessible reaction pathways.

Main Methods:

• Electrospray ion beam deposition of Reichardt's dye onto a Cu(100) surface.
• Collision of molecules with hyperthermal translational energy (2-50 eV).
• Single-molecule level imaging using scanning tunneling microscopy.

Main Results:

• Observed bond-selective reactions driven by the molecule's translational kinetic energy.
• Collision-induced impulse compressed the molecule and bent specific bonds, leading to selective reactions.
• Achieved reaction products not accessible through conventional thermal methods due to short collision timescales.

Conclusions:

• Translational kinetic energy provides a novel route to control molecular reactions at surfaces.
• This approach enables the synthesis of unique chemical structures by bypassing thermal limitations.
• The findings open new avenues for designing surface-mediated chemical processes.