Single Molecule’s Electric Charges Seen in First Image

Researchers at IBM Research Zurich are now enthusiastically sharing the images of the “charge distribution” in a single molecule, displaying the “intricate dance” of electrons.

While scientists have previously been able to measure the charges of subatomic particles of a single atom, it has proven much more trying to capture these charges within a larger molecule. These pioneering images and techniques could very possibly shed light on many “charge-transfer” processes which frequently occur in nature.

This group of researchers has already been known for their accomplishments, as they have measured the charge on single atoms and captured the first image of a single molecule. Yet, for the latest innovation, the team implemented a different technique: Kelvin probe microscopy, a variant of the atomic force microscopy that allowed their first molecular image in 2009.

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