Research Update: Molecular electronics: The single-molecule switch and transistor
In order to design and realize single-molecule devices it is essential to have a good understanding of the properties of an individual molecule. For electronic applications, the most important property of a molecule is its conductance. Here we show how a single octanethiol molecule can be connected...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AIP Publishing LLC
2014-01-01
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| Series: | APL Materials |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4855775 |
| _version_ | 1830484097155203072 |
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| author | Kai Sotthewes Victor Geskin René Heimbuch Avijit Kumar Harold J. W. Zandvliet |
| author_facet | Kai Sotthewes Victor Geskin René Heimbuch Avijit Kumar Harold J. W. Zandvliet |
| author_sort | Kai Sotthewes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In order to design and realize single-molecule devices it is essential to have a good understanding of the properties of an individual molecule. For electronic applications, the most important property of a molecule is its conductance. Here we show how a single octanethiol molecule can be connected to macroscopic leads and how the transport properties of the molecule can be measured. Based on this knowledge we have realized two single-molecule devices: a molecular switch and a molecular transistor. The switch can be opened and closed at will by carefully adjusting the separation between the electrical contacts and the voltage drop across the contacts. This single-molecular switch operates in a broad temperature range from cryogenic temperatures all the way up to room temperature. Via mechanical gating, i.e., compressing or stretching of the octanethiol molecule, by varying the contact's interspace, we are able to systematically adjust the conductance of the electrode-octanethiol-electrode junction. This two-terminal single-molecule transistor is very robust, but the amplification factor is rather limited. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T18:02:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-025f70fb92ff41fd84f259443b426b85 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2166-532X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T18:02:38Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | AIP Publishing LLC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | APL Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-025f70fb92ff41fd84f259443b426b852022-12-21T18:55:02ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Materials2166-532X2014-01-0121010701010701-1110.1063/1.4855775004401APMResearch Update: Molecular electronics: The single-molecule switch and transistorKai Sotthewes0Victor Geskin1René Heimbuch2Avijit Kumar3Harold J. W. Zandvliet4Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, The NetherlandsService de Chimie des Materiaux Nouveaux, University of Mons, Mons, BelgiumPhysics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, The NetherlandsPhysics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, The NetherlandsPhysics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, The NetherlandsIn order to design and realize single-molecule devices it is essential to have a good understanding of the properties of an individual molecule. For electronic applications, the most important property of a molecule is its conductance. Here we show how a single octanethiol molecule can be connected to macroscopic leads and how the transport properties of the molecule can be measured. Based on this knowledge we have realized two single-molecule devices: a molecular switch and a molecular transistor. The switch can be opened and closed at will by carefully adjusting the separation between the electrical contacts and the voltage drop across the contacts. This single-molecular switch operates in a broad temperature range from cryogenic temperatures all the way up to room temperature. Via mechanical gating, i.e., compressing or stretching of the octanethiol molecule, by varying the contact's interspace, we are able to systematically adjust the conductance of the electrode-octanethiol-electrode junction. This two-terminal single-molecule transistor is very robust, but the amplification factor is rather limited.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4855775 |
| spellingShingle | Kai Sotthewes Victor Geskin René Heimbuch Avijit Kumar Harold J. W. Zandvliet Research Update: Molecular electronics: The single-molecule switch and transistor APL Materials |
| title | Research Update: Molecular electronics: The single-molecule switch and transistor |
| title_full | Research Update: Molecular electronics: The single-molecule switch and transistor |
| title_fullStr | Research Update: Molecular electronics: The single-molecule switch and transistor |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research Update: Molecular electronics: The single-molecule switch and transistor |
| title_short | Research Update: Molecular electronics: The single-molecule switch and transistor |
| title_sort | research update molecular electronics the single molecule switch and transistor |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4855775 |
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