2D ionic liquid behavior of charged rare-earth clusters on a metal surface
Scientific Achievement
Chiral rare-earth clusters with net charges are formed on a metal surface that exhibits a 2D liquid-like behavior at ~100 K.
Significance and Impact
Charged rare-earth complexes are common in the liquid phase, but they do not form on metallic surfaces. This finding enables the designing of robust rare-earth complexes for efficient energy and emission behaviors and for rare-earth separation in a solid-state environment.
Research Details
- La(pcam)3 triflate salt was deposited onto Au(111) and Cu(111) surfaces under ultrahigh vacuum.
- Measurements were performed at 5 K, 100 K substrate temperatures using UHV-STMs.
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