Switching the Chirality of Single Adsorbate Complexes

Abstract

Pumped up: Propene molecules form chiral complexes when adsorbed on a copper surface. Inelastically scattered tunneling electrons from the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope induce rotation or diffusion of the adsorbate on the surface. Higher tunneling currents can lead to conversion of the adsorbate into the opposite enantiomer.