6533b858fe1ef96bd12b64b8

RESEARCH PRODUCT

L-Tryptophan on Cu(111): engineering a molecular labyrinth driven by indole groups

E N YitambenA ClayborneNathan P. GuisingerSeth B. DarlingSeth B. Darling

subject

Indole testIndolesMaterials scienceSurface PropertiesHydrogen bondStereochemistryMechanical EngineeringIntermolecular forceTemperatureTryptophanMolecular electronicsBioengineeringGeneral Chemistrylaw.inventionCrystallographyAdsorptionMechanics of MaterialslawMoleculeGeneral Materials ScienceAdsorptionElectrical and Electronic EngineeringScanning tunneling microscopeSuperstructure (condensed matter)Copper

description

The present article investigates the adsorption and molecular orientation of L-Tryptophan, which is both an essential amino acid important for protein synthesis and of particular interest for the development of chiral molecular electronics and biocompatible processes and devices, on Cu(111) using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy at 55 K and at room temperature. The arrangement of chemisorbed L-Tryptophan on the copper surface varies with both temperature and surface coverage. At low coverage, small clusters form on the surface irrespective of temperature, while at high coverage an ordered chain structure emerges at room temperature, and a tightly packed structure forms a molecular labyrinth at low temperature. The dominating superstructure of the adsorbates arises from intermolecular hydrogen bonding, and π-bonding interactions between the indole groups of neighboring molecules and the Cu surface.

https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/26/23/235604