First observed a chemical molecule microscopy
An old dream has come true scientist. Observe a chemical molecule microscopy. It may seem a piece of honeycomb, but this picture as a lattice is the first close view of a single molecule that IBM scientists were able through an atomic force microscope (AFM) to reveal for the first time, the chemical bonds within of a molecule.
“This is the first time that all the atoms in a molecule are photographed,” said lead researcher Leo Gross.
The researchers focused on a single molecule of pentacene, which is commonly used in solar cells. The rectangular shape of the organic molecule is composed of 22 carbon atoms and 14 hydrogen atoms. In the picture above the hexagonal shapes of the five rings of carbon are clear, and may even be seen the positions of hydrogen atoms around the carbon rings.
To give some perspective, the gap between the rings of carbon is only 0.14 nanometers wide, roughly one million times smaller than the diameter of a grain of sand.
“If you think about how the doctor uses an x-ray image bones and organs inside the human body, we are using the atomic force microscope to make images of atomic structures that are the backbone of individual molecules” said IBM researcher, Gerhard Meyer.
The research team at IBM Zurich said the findings could have a huge impact in the field of nanotechnology, which aims to understand and control some of the smallest objects known to mankind. Atomic force microscopy using a sharp metal tip that acts as a holder of adjustment to measure small forces between the tip and the molecule. This requires great precision as the tip moves within a nanometer of the sample.
“Most of the molecular structure of the spine (pentacene) has a different detuning above the surface of the molecule that lies on him,” said Mr. Gross. This imbalance is measured and converted into an image. The experiment was carried out under high vacuum to an extremely cold temperature of-268C to prevent stray gas molecules or atomic vibrations affect the measurements. “Eventually we want to investigate the use of molecules for molecular electronics,” Mr. Gross.
