Open AccessPlasmon enhanced luminescence from fullerene molecules excited by local electron tunneling
Author(s) -
F. Rossel,
Marina Pivetta,
F. Patthey,
W. D. Schneider
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.002714
Subject(s) - luminescence , scanning tunneling microscope , excited state , materials science , fullerene , plasmon , surface plasmon , quantum tunnelling , phosphorescence , molecule , intramolecular force , spin polarized scanning tunneling microscopy , scanning tunneling spectroscopy , molecular physics , fluorescence , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , atomic physics , optics , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , stereochemistry
Tunneling electrons from a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) induce luminescence from C(60) and C(70) molecules forming fullerene nanocrystals grown on ultrathin NaCl films on Au(111). Intramolecular fluorescence and phosphorescence associated with the transitions between the lowest electronic excited state and ground state of C(70) molecules are identified, leading to unambiguous chemical recognition on the nanoscale. Moreover we demonstrate that the molecular luminescence is selectively enhanced by localized surface plasmons in the STM tip-sample gap.