Low temperature manipulation of big molecules in constant height mode

The possibility of extending the lateral manipulation process performed wit h the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope at low temperature to large mo lecules is demonstrated. Single Cu-TBPP molecules deposited on a Cu substra te were manipulated by means of the interaction between the molecule and th e tip. Due to the complicated structure of the molecules and to their high conductance, we have explored the possibilities of performing controlled la teral manipulation at constant height. On Cu(111) this method makes possibl e translation combined with rotation of the molecules on the surface. (C) 2 001 American Institute of Physics.