1
|
Liyanage CD, Ortiz-Garcia JJ, Struckmeier A, Kienzler M, Quardokus RC. Light-induced Photoswitching of 4-(Phenylazo)benzoic Acid on Au(111). Chemphyschem 2023; 24:e202300160. [PMID: 37369072 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202300160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Photochromic molecules can undergo a reversible conversion between two isomeric forms upon exposure to external stimuli such as electromagnetic radiation. A significant physical transformation accompanying the photoisomerization process defines them as photoswitches, with potential applications in various molecular electronic devices. As such, a detailed understanding of the photoisomerization process on surfaces and the influence of the local chemical environment on switching efficiency is essential. Herein, we use scanning tunneling microscopy to observe the photoisomerization of 4-(phenylazo)benzoic acid (PABA) assembled on Au(111) in kinetically constrained metastable states guided by pulse deposition. Photoswitching is observed at low molecular density and is absent in tight-packed islands. Furthermore, switching events were noted in PABA molecules coadsorbed in a host octanethiol monolayer, suggesting an influence of the surrounding chemical environment on photoswitching efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - José J Ortiz-Garcia
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Annalena Struckmeier
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Michael Kienzler
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Rebecca C Quardokus
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Duan S, Xu X. Accurate Simulations of Scanning Tunneling Microscope: Both Tip and Substrate States Matter. J Phys Chem Lett 2023:6726-6735. [PMID: 37470339 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c01603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Scanning tunneling microscope (STM) provides an atomic-scale characterization tool. To this end, high-resolution measurements and accurate simulations must closely cooperate. Emerging experimental techniques, e.g., substrate spacers and tip modifications, suppress metallic couplings and improve the resolution. On the other hand, development of STM simulation methods was inactive in the past decade. Conventional simulations focus on the electronic structure of the substrate, often overlooking detailed descriptions of the tip states. Meanwhile, the overwhelming usage of periodic boundary conditions ensures effective simulations of only neutral systems. In this Perspective, we highlight the recent progress that takes the effects of both tip and substrate into account under either Tersoff-Hamann or Bardeen's approximation, which provides an accurate analysis of measured high-resolution STM results, uncovers underlying concepts, and rationally designs experimental protocols for important chemical systems. We hope this Perspective will stimulate broad interest in advanced STM simulations, highlighting the way forward for STM investigations that involve complex geometrical and electronic structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sai Duan
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Physical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Physical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
- Hefei National Laboratory, Hefei 230088, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang B, Feng Y, Feng W. Azobenzene-Based Solar Thermal Fuels: A Review. NANO-MICRO LETTERS 2022; 14:138. [PMID: 35767090 PMCID: PMC9243213 DOI: 10.1007/s40820-022-00876-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The energy storage mechanism of azobenzene is based on the transformation of molecular cis and trans isomerization, while NBD/QC, DHA/VHF, and fulvalene dimetal complexes realize the energy storage function by changing the molecular structure. Acting as "molecular batteries," they can exhibit excellent charging and discharging behavior by converting between trans and cis isomers or changing molecular structure upon absorption of ultraviolet light. Key properties determining the performance of STFs are stored energy, energy density, half-life, and solar energy conversion efficiency. This review is aiming to provide a comprehensive and authoritative overview on the recent advancements of azobenzene molecular photoswitch system in STFs fields, including derivatives and carbon nano-templates, which is emphasized for its attractive performance. Although the energy storage performance of Azo-STFs has already reached the level of commercial lithium batteries, the cycling capability and controllable release of energy still need to be further explored. For this, some potential solutions to the cycle performance are proposed, and the methods of azobenzene controllable energy release are summarized. Moreover, energy stored by STFs can be released in the form of mechanical energy, which in turn can also promote the release of thermal energy from STFs, implying that there could be a relationship between mechanical and thermal energy in Azo-STFs, providing a potential direction for further research on Azo-STFs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiyu Feng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, People's Republic of China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, Tianjin, 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Feng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, People's Republic of China.
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Composite and Functional Materials, Tianjin, 300350, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Mold, Ministry of Education, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450002, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
A Theoretical Investigation about Photoswitching of Azobenzene Adsorbed on Ag Nanoparticles. CRYSTALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst12020248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The optical properties of hybrid systems composed of silver nanoparticles (NPs) and azobenzene molecules were systematically investigated by combining the real-time time-dependent density functional theory (RT-TDDFT) approach with the classical electrodynamics finite difference time domain (FDTD) technique for the solution of Maxwell’s equations. In order to reflect the chemical interaction between azobenzene and metal more exactly, except for adsorbed molecules, a Ag cluster separated from NP was also dealt, using RT-TDDFT. We studied the different factors affecting the surface-enhanced absorption spectra. It was found that the electric field amplified by plasmon resonance of Ag NPs can have an overall enhancement to the molecular light absorption throughout the whole energy range. The resonance between the electron and the plasmon excitation results in a larger percentage of enhancement in the absorption spectrum the closer the resonance peak is. The enhancement ratio of the resonance peak is the largest. The plasmon–exciton coupling and the optical properties of different isolate isomers influence the line shape of the absorption spectra. The dipole interaction and electronic transfer between azobenzene molecules and Ag NPs also change the shape of spectroscopy from the absorption enhancement ratio and the location of the peak. Physical and chemical factors lead to photoswitching in these hybrid systems together.
Collapse
|
5
|
Xu J, Zhu X, Tan S, Zhang Y, Li B, Tian Y, Shan H, Cui X, Zhao A, Dong Z, Yang J, Luo Y, Wang B, Hou JG. Determining structural and chemical heterogeneities of surface species at the single-bond limit. Science 2021; 371:818-822. [DOI: 10.1126/science.abd1827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Xu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Xiang Zhu
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Shijing Tan
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Bin Li
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Yunzhe Tian
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Huan Shan
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Xuefeng Cui
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Aidi Zhao
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Zhenchao Dong
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Jinlong Yang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Yi Luo
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Bing Wang
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - J. G. Hou
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu W, Yang S, Li J, Su G, Ren J. One molecule, two states: Single molecular switch on metallic electrodes. WIRES COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Nano and Heterogeneous Materials Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing China
| | - Sha Yang
- Nano and Heterogeneous Materials Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing China
| | - Jingtai Li
- Nano and Heterogeneous Materials Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing China
| | - Guirong Su
- Nano and Heterogeneous Materials Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing China
| | - Ji‐Chang Ren
- Nano and Heterogeneous Materials Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing University of Science and Technology Nanjing China
| |
Collapse
|