Observation of spectral evolution during the formation of a Ni2 Kondo molecule

We have used atomic manipulation and scanning tunneling spectroscopy to study the evolution in electronic properties that occurs as two Ni atoms are merged into a single magnetic molecule on Au(111). We observe energetic shifting of molecular d-orbitals and a strong decrease in the molecular Kondo temperature as Ni-Ni separation is reduced to 3.4+ or -0.3Angstroms. These results are qualitatively explained by a combination of spin-1/2-s-d model and density-functional calculations.