2021/10/18 by Tianyu Fang, Florian Elsen, Fang, Tianyu +5
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques #Chemical Physics (physics.chem-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Mechanical and Optical Resonators #Molecular Junctions and Nanostructures #Optics (physics.optics) #physics.chem-ph #physics.optics
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2110.09224
arxiv created 2021/10/18 · openalex publication_date 2021/10/18 · arxiv updated 2021/10/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Molecule-surface interaction is key to many physical and chemical processes at interfaces. Here, we show that the dynamics of single molecules on a surface under ultrahigh vacuum can be resolved using fluorescence imaging. By adapting oil-immersion microscopy to a thin vacuum window, we measure the surface adsorption, translational and rotational diffusion of single perylene molecules on a fused silica surface with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Time-dependent measurements of the fluorescence signal allow us to deduce two characteristic decay time scales, which can be explained through a simplified model involving two adsorption states and five energy levels. The system presented in this work combines fluorescence imaging with essential ingredients for surface science and promises a platform for probing single molecule-surface interactions in highly defined conditions.