Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.108, No.39, 14800-14803, 2004
Thermochemical hole burning on DPA(TCNQ)(2) and MEM(TCNQ)(2) charge transfer complexes using a scanning tunneling microscope
A thermochemical hole burning (THB) effect was observed on two organic charge transfer complexes, when applying a suitable voltage pulse using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM), which is closely related to a STM current-induced localized thermochemical decomposition of the charge-transfer complex. The decomposition reaction evolves the low boiling point decomposition components of the charge-transfer complex, leaving a nanometer-sized hole on the crystal surface. This effect demonstrates the possibility of creating an ultrahigh-density THB memory, in which information bit is recorded as a hole.