Observation and manipulation of tris(dibenzoylmethanato)ruthenium molecules by low temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy

The behavior of tris(dibenzoylmethanato)ruthenium molecules has been studied using low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy after adsorption on Ag(111) and Cu(111). On both surfaces, the molecules present two adsorption geometries: a bi-lobed and a chiral threefold structure. This latter form can stand up to adopt a bi-lobed conformation which is oriented along the dense crystallographic directions. The molecular geometries after adsorption can be modified using the STM tip. In one of these modifications, a switch between two different conformations has been observed. The data recorded during the experiments show that this phenomenon is induced by the electric field in the STM junction.