Abstract
AbstractA molecular rotor is a molecule/molecular system that performs rotary motions under an external stimulus. Molecular rotors are promising for applications in medicine, optical usage, information science, etc. A molecular rotor is also a crucial component in constructing more sophisticated functional molecular machines. Anchoring molecular rotors on surfaces is regarded as a feasible way of building functional molecular rotor systems. Scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is a powerful tool for studying surface dynamics in real space on atomic precision. It provides an ideal platform for both qualitatively and quantitively investigating single and self-assembled molecular rotors mounted on surfaces. Herein, we review a series of studies utilizing STM to unveil the methodologies that are increasingly used in the area of surface-mounted molecule rotors. A combined usage of these methodologies is more and more necessary for researchers to advance the molecular rotor study in future.
Funder
City University of Hong Kong
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC