Related papers: Local work-function manipulation by external optic…
In a joint theoretical and experimental work the optical properties of azobenzene-functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are studied at different molecular packing densities. Our results, based on density-functional and many-body…
In a first-principles study based on many-body perturbation theory, we analyze the optical excitations of azobenzene-functionalized SAMs with increasing packing density and different terminations, considering for comparison the…
We have observed reversible light-induced mechanical switching for a single organic molecule bound to a metal surface. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was used to image the features of an individual azobenzene molecule on Au(111) before…
In-vivo, real-time study of the local and collective cellular biomechanical responses requires the fine and selective manipulation of the cellular environment. One innovative pathway is the use of photoactive bio-substrates such as…
Molecular self-assembly has been extensively used for surface modification of metals and oxides for a variety of applications, including molecular and organic electronics. One of the goals of this research is to learn how the electronic…
We study x-ray absorption spectra of azobenzene-functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), investigating excitations from the nitrogen K edge. Azobenzene with H-termination and functionalized with CF3 groups is considered. The…
A strongly confined light field necessarily exhibits a local polarization that varies on a subwavelength scale. We demonstrate that a single optical mode of such kind can be used to selectively and simultaneously manipulate atomic ensembles…
The ability to modulate free electrons with light has emerged as a powerful tool to produce attosecond electron wavepackets. However, research has so far aimed at the manipulation of the longitudinal wave function component, while the…
The photoisomerization of chromophores embedded in biological environments is of high importance for biomedical applications, but it is still challenging to define the photoisomerization mechanism both experimentally and computationally. We…
We analyze a scheme to manipulate quantum states of neutral atoms at individual sites of optical lattices using focused laser beams. Spatial distributions of focused laser intensities induce position-dependent energy shifts of hyperfine…
A new azobenzene-thiophene molecular switch is designed, synthesized and used to form self-assembled monolayers (SAM) on gold. An "on/off" conductance ratio up to 7x1E3 (with an average value of 1.5x1E3) is reported. The "on" conductance…
In molecular nanotechnology, a single molecule is envisioned to act as the basic building block of electronic devices. Such devices may be of special interest for organic photovoltaics, data storage, and smart materials. However, more often…
Photoswitchable organic molecules can undergo reversible structural changes with an external light stimulus. These optically controlled molecules have been used in the development of smart polymers, optical writing of grating films, and…
Optical metasurfaces can shape the near fields of energetic electrons, enabling Smith-Purcell (SP) emission. We introduce a generalized SP effect relying on finite periodic arrays whose elements possess individually tunable…
Controlling the activity of proteins with azobenzene photoswitches is a potent tool for manipulating their biological function. With the help of light, one can change e.g. binding affinities, control allostery or temper with complex…
Self-assembled functionalized nano particles are at the focus of a number of potential applications, in particular for molecular scale electronics devices. Here we perform experiments of self-assembly of 10 nm Au nano particles (NPs),…
Entanglement control of qubits in a photoisomerizing molecule is studied in the context of an NMR quantum computer by taking azobenzene as an example. Azobenzene has two different isomers, {\it{}trans}-azobenzene (TAB) and…
Photoresponsive materials feature properties that can be adjusted near- instantaneously, reversibly, and with high spatiotemporal precision, by light. There is considerable interest in maximising the degree of switching, and in measuring…
The chemical modification of electrodes with organic materials is a common approach to tune the electronic and electrostatic landscape between interlayers in optoelectronic devices, thus facilitating charge injection at the…
We report here the reversibility and bistability of the switching behavior in an azobenzene derivative induced by the bias applied by a Scanning-Tunneling Microscopy (STM) tip, at low temperature and in ultra-high vacuum environment. This…