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A standing molecule as a coherent single-electron field emitter

The assembly of single-molecule devices with the help of the manipulation capability of scanning probe microscopes offers many opportunities for quantum- and nanotechnology. A key challenge is fabricating device structures that can overcome their attraction to the underlying surface and thus protrude from the two-dimensional flatlands of the surface. In my talk, I will report the fabrication of such a structure: we use the tip of a scanning probe microscope to lift a large planar aromatic molecule into an upright, standing geometry on a pedestal of two metal adatoms. This atypical upright orientation of the single molecule, whose stability can be understood as the result of a fine balance between chemical and dispersion forces, enables the system to function as a quantum dot and an on-demand coherent single-electron field emitter. If attached to the tip of the microscope, the standing molecule can also be applied as a sensitive quantum dot sensor. We anticipate that other metastable adsorbate configurations might also be accessible, thereby opening up the third dimension for the design of functional nanostructures on surfaces. Finally, we have made first steps into the direction of an autonomous robotic nanofabrication of single-molecule devices.