%0 Journal Article %1 Baumgärtner2026 %A Baumgärtner, Kiana %A Nozaki, Misa %A Reuner, Marvin %A Wind, Nils %A Haniuda, Masato %A Metzger, Christian %A Heber, Michael %A Kutnyakhov, Dmytro %A Pressacco, Federico %A Wenthaus, Lukas %A Hara, Keisuke %A Chordiya, Kalyani %A Min, Chul-Hee %A Beye, Martin %A Reinert, Friedrich %A Roth, Friedrich %A Mahatha, Sanjoy Kr %A Madsen, Anders %A Wehling, Tim %A Niki, Kaori %A Popova-Gorelova, Daria %A Rossnagel, Kai %A Scholz, Markus %D 2026 %J Nat. Commun. %K x %N 1 %P 2110 %R 10.1038/s41467-026-69801-6 %T Femtosecond concerted rotation of molecules on a 2D material interface %U https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69801-6 %V 17 %X Interfaces between molecules and 2D materials exhibit energy-driven functionalities, wherein charge transfer directs molecular motion. Unlike equilibrium systems, where molecular assemblies settle into static configurations, continuous energy input can drive transient, collective molecular rearrangements. Here, we reveal ultrafast spectroscopic fingerprints of a collective rotational response of molecules on a 2D material following photoexcitation. Our results suggest that photoinduced charge transfer reshapes the interfacial energy potential, giving rise to macroscopic, unidirectional molecular rotation and the formation of a homochiral molecular arrangement. Using a multiplexed ultrafast photoemission spectroscopy approach, we simultaneously track electronic states, atomic positions, and orbital wavefunctions with femtosecond and sub-\AAngström resolution. Multimodal valence and core electron emission analysis disentangles the intertwined electronic-structural dynamics of the molecule and the 2D material, revealing the dynamic modulation of charge distribution and intermolecular forces that drive collective molecular motion. Our findings open a pathway for designing energy-driven molecular systems with tunable interfacial dynamics, with potential applications in chiral engineering and active matter systems.

@article{Baumgärtner2026, abstract = {Interfaces between molecules and 2D materials exhibit energy-driven functionalities, wherein charge transfer directs molecular motion. Unlike equilibrium systems, where molecular assemblies settle into static configurations, continuous energy input can drive transient, collective molecular rearrangements. Here, we reveal ultrafast spectroscopic fingerprints of a collective rotational response of molecules on a 2D material following photoexcitation. Our results suggest that photoinduced charge transfer reshapes the interfacial energy potential, giving rise to macroscopic, unidirectional molecular rotation and the formation of a homochiral molecular arrangement. Using a multiplexed ultrafast photoemission spectroscopy approach, we simultaneously track electronic states, atomic positions, and orbital wavefunctions with femtosecond and sub-{\AA}ngstr{\"o}m resolution. Multimodal valence and core electron emission analysis disentangles the intertwined electronic-structural dynamics of the molecule and the 2D material, revealing the dynamic modulation of charge distribution and intermolecular forces that drive collective molecular motion. Our findings open a pathway for designing energy-driven molecular systems with tunable interfacial dynamics, with potential applications in chiral engineering and active matter systems.}, added-at = {2026-03-03T14:22:15.000+0100}, author = {Baumgärtner, Kiana and Nozaki, Misa and Reuner, Marvin and Wind, Nils and Haniuda, Masato and Metzger, Christian and Heber, Michael and Kutnyakhov, Dmytro and Pressacco, Federico and Wenthaus, Lukas and Hara, Keisuke and Chordiya, Kalyani and Min, Chul-Hee and Beye, Martin and Reinert, Friedrich and Roth, Friedrich and Mahatha, Sanjoy Kr and Madsen, Anders and Wehling, Tim and Niki, Kaori and Popova-Gorelova, Daria and Rossnagel, Kai and Scholz, Markus}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/29db061ff1969570b66c62fc5146e52cf/ctqmat}, day = 27, description = {Femtosecond concerted rotation of molecules on a 2D material interface | Nature Communications}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-026-69801-6}, interhash = {1c2198be55082c8560b0c624ba29eca1}, intrahash = {9db061ff1969570b66c62fc5146e52cf}, issn = {2041-1723}, journal = {Nat. Commun.}, keywords = {x}, month = {02}, number = 1, pages = 2110, timestamp = {2026-03-03T14:22:15.000+0100}, title = {Femtosecond concerted rotation of molecules on a 2D material interface}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69801-6}, volume = 17, year = 2026 }