1. Substrate stabilization of Jahn--Teller distortion in a single molecule
- Author
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Frankerl, Moritz, Patera, Laerte L., Frederiksen, Thomas, Repp, Jascha, and Donarini, Andrea
- Subjects
Condensed Matter - Materials Science ,Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics - Abstract
Charge-state transitions of a single Cu-phthalocyanine molecule adsorbed on an insulating layer of NaCl on Cu(111) are probed by means of alternate charging scanning tunneling microscopy. Real-space imaging of the electronic transitions reveals the Jahn--Teller distortion occurring upon formation of the first and second anionic charge states. The experimental findings are rationalized by a theoretical many-body model which highlights the crucial role played by the substrate. The latter enhances and stabilizes the intrinsic Jahn--Teller distortion of the negatively charged molecule hosting a degenerate pair of single-particle frontier orbitals. Consequently, two excess electrons are found to occupy, in the ground state, the same localized orbital, despite a larger Coulomb repulsion than the one for the competing delocalized electronic configuration. Control over the charging sequence by varying the applied bias voltage is also predicted.
- Published
- 2024