Manipulation of C60 molecules on Cu(111) surfaces using a scanning tunneling microscope

We demonstrate and discuss the use of a scanning tunneling microscope operated at room temperature to push individual C60 molecules out from their stable adsorption sites at Cu(111) steps, trap them into nanometer-sized Cu vacancy sites formed with the tip, or reposition them one-byone along a Cu step under complete control. © 1998 Springer-Verlag.