Direct Observation of Single‐Molecule Magnets Organized on Gold Surfaces

Scanning tunneling microscopy can be utilized to individually probe single-molecule magnets that have been deposited on gold substrates (see schematic). Dilute solutions (in THF/H2O/NH4OH) of a dodecamanganese(III,IV) cluster surrounded by acetyl-protected thiol groups, [Mn12O12(L)16(H2O)4], have been used to prepare Au(111) adsorbates that are a first step towards ultra-high-density information storage using single-molecule magnets.