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Enantioselective Adsorption on Magnetic Surfaces.
Mohammad Reza Safari1,2, Frank Matthes1,2, Vasile Caciuc3
1Peter Grünberg Institute, Electronic Properties (PGI-6), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|December 28, 2023
Summary
Chiral molecules show enantioselective adsorption on magnetic cobalt surfaces. This molecular magnetochiral effect, driven by spin-fluctuations in a transient state, enables enantiomer discrimination.
Area of Science:
- Surface Science
- Molecular Magnetism
- Chirality
Background:
- The relationship between molecular chirality and magnetism is a long-standing area of scientific inquiry.
- Enantioselective adsorption of chiral molecules on magnetic surfaces remains an open question.
- Chirality-induced spin separation and substrate exchange interactions are proposed mechanisms for enantiomer discrimination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate enantioselective adsorption of chiral molecules on ferromagnetic surfaces.
- To elucidate the role of spin and magnetization in molecular adsorption processes.
Main Methods:
- Spin and chirality sensitive scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was employed.
- State-of-the-art spin-resolved ab initio simulations were utilized.
- Experimental observations were correlated with theoretical calculations.
Main Results:
- Single helical aromatic hydrocarbons exhibit enantioselective adsorption on ferromagnetic cobalt surfaces.
- Molecules of opposite handedness preferentially adsorb on cobalt islands with opposing magnetization.
- Enantioselection occurs in a transient physisorbed state, not the final chemisorbed state.
Conclusions:
- Chirality-induced spin separation and substrate magnetization govern enantioselective adsorption.
- Van der Waals interactions, including spin-fluctuations, are critical for molecular magnetochiral phenomena.
- The findings provide crucial insights into controlling molecular orientation and interactions on magnetic materials.
