Molecular Electronics – Resonant Transport through Single Molecules

The mechanically controllable break-junction technique (MCBJ) enables us to investigate charge transport through an individually contacted and addressed molecule in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environment at variable temperature ranging from room temperature down to 4 K. Using a statistical me...

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Main Authors: Emanuel Lörtscher, Heike Riel
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Swiss Chemical Society 2010-06-01
Series:CHIMIA
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.chimia.ch/chimia/article/view/4865
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author Emanuel Lörtscher
Heike Riel
author_facet Emanuel Lörtscher
Heike Riel
author_sort Emanuel Lörtscher
collection DOAJ
description The mechanically controllable break-junction technique (MCBJ) enables us to investigate charge transport through an individually contacted and addressed molecule in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environment at variable temperature ranging from room temperature down to 4 K. Using a statistical measurement and analysis approach, we acquire current–voltage (I-V) characteristics during the repeated formation, manipulation, and breaking of a molecular junction. At low temperatures, voltages accessing the first molecular orbitals in resonance can be applied, providing spectroscopic information about the junction's energy landscape, in particular about the molecular level alignment in respect to the Fermi energy of the electrodes. Thereby, we can investigate the non-linear transport properties of various types of functional molecules and explore their potential use as functional building blocks for future nano-electronics. An example will be given by the reversible and controllable switching between two distinct conductive states of a single molecule. As a proof-of-principle for functional molecular devices, a single-molecule memory element will be demonstrated.
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spelling doaj.art-1b333cb5a464409591b1f001b23827352022-12-22T00:05:53ZdeuSwiss Chemical SocietyCHIMIA0009-42932673-24242010-06-0164610.2533/chimia.2010.376Molecular Electronics – Resonant Transport through Single MoleculesEmanuel Lörtscher0Heike Riel1IBM - Zurich, Science & Technology Department, Säumerstrasse 4, CH-8803 RüschlikonIBM - Zurich, Science & Technology Department, Säumerstrasse 4, CH-8803 Rüschlikon The mechanically controllable break-junction technique (MCBJ) enables us to investigate charge transport through an individually contacted and addressed molecule in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) environment at variable temperature ranging from room temperature down to 4 K. Using a statistical measurement and analysis approach, we acquire current–voltage (I-V) characteristics during the repeated formation, manipulation, and breaking of a molecular junction. At low temperatures, voltages accessing the first molecular orbitals in resonance can be applied, providing spectroscopic information about the junction's energy landscape, in particular about the molecular level alignment in respect to the Fermi energy of the electrodes. Thereby, we can investigate the non-linear transport properties of various types of functional molecules and explore their potential use as functional building blocks for future nano-electronics. An example will be given by the reversible and controllable switching between two distinct conductive states of a single molecule. As a proof-of-principle for functional molecular devices, a single-molecule memory element will be demonstrated. https://www.chimia.ch/chimia/article/view/4865Electron transportMechanically controllable break-junctionMolecular building blocksMolecular electronicsSingle molecules
spellingShingle Emanuel Lörtscher
Heike Riel
Molecular Electronics – Resonant Transport through Single Molecules
CHIMIA
Electron transport
Mechanically controllable break-junction
Molecular building blocks
Molecular electronics
Single molecules
title Molecular Electronics – Resonant Transport through Single Molecules
title_full Molecular Electronics – Resonant Transport through Single Molecules
title_fullStr Molecular Electronics – Resonant Transport through Single Molecules
title_full_unstemmed Molecular Electronics – Resonant Transport through Single Molecules
title_short Molecular Electronics – Resonant Transport through Single Molecules
title_sort molecular electronics resonant transport through single molecules
topic Electron transport
Mechanically controllable break-junction
Molecular building blocks
Molecular electronics
Single molecules
url https://www.chimia.ch/chimia/article/view/4865
work_keys_str_mv AT emanuellortscher molecularelectronicsresonanttransportthroughsinglemolecules
AT heikeriel molecularelectronicsresonanttransportthroughsinglemolecules