Successful electron orbital imaging of a single molecule, Associate Prof. Yamada

In organic electronics, such as organic solar cells and organic light-emitting diodes, which are currently undergoing rapid research and development, the “shape” of the electron orbitals (electron trajectories) of organic molecules is extremely important. However, there are very limited methods to visualize the electron orbitals of molecules. In particular, dynamic imaging of molecular orbitals in real space and real time is very important for studying structural changes and reactions of molecules, but has been difficult.

　In this study, using a technique called “field emission microscopy,” we have shown that the electron orbitals of single molecules can be imaged by projecting the electrons emitted from organic semiconductor molecules adsorbed on a needle tip (electric field emission). Detailed analysis of the field emission from the molecule and its spatial distribution revealed that what is visualized by this technique may be spatially extended electron orbitals outside the molecule, called supra-atomic molecular orbitals (SAMOs).

　Since such extended electron orbitals are suitable for transporting electrons in organic electronics, this research group has been working on detailed measurements of SAMOs, and this achievement is based on these results. This method is expected to be useful not only for future SAMO studies but also as a new dynamic imaging technique for single molecule diffusion and reactions on surfaces.

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