Fig. 1: Preparation and characterisation of a single-molecule catalyst device.

a Schematic of a single-molecule device for the Mizoroki–Heck reaction. Black ball: carbon atom in graphene; brown ball: carbon atom in the molecular bridge; red ball: oxygen atom in the molecular bridge; dark blue ball: nitrogen atom in the molecular bridge; green ball: palladium atom in the molecular bridge; white ball: carbon atom derived from bromobenzene; purple ball: bromine atom in bromobenzene; grey ball: carbon atom derived from styrene. b I–V curves before and after preparation of the single-molecule device. The voltage response indicated the successful preparation of the single-molecule device. c Fluorescent super-resolution imaging of the single-molecule catalyst during the Mizoroki–Heck reaction between 3-bromoperylene and styrene. A 405 nm, 5 mW laser was focused on the graphene device through a ×100 oil lens with 5000 photos taken with an exposure time of 50 ms. d The excitation light and 300 mV bias voltages were applied simultaneously at 298 K, and the real-time fluorescent signal of the single-molecule site was compared with the monitored current signal through the single molecule. e Normalised fluorescence emission spectra of 3-bromoperylene and its Mizoroki–Heck reaction product in macroscopic experiments. f Fluorescent spectroscopies recorded at the single-catalyst reaction site. DBU 1,5-diazabicyclo(5,4,0)undec-5-ene, DMF N,N-dimethylformamide.