Role of solvents in the electronic transport properties of single-molecule junctions
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
We report on an experimental study of the charge transport through tunnel gaps formed by adjustable gold electrodes immersed into different solvents that are commonly used in the field of molecular electronics (ethanol, toluene, mesitylene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, isopropanol, toluene/tetrahydrofuran mixtures) for the study of single-molecule contacts of functional molecules. We present measurements of the conductance as a function of gap width, conductance histograms as well as current-voltage characteristics of narrow gaps and discuss them in terms of the Simmons model, which is the standard model for describing transport via tunnel barriers, and the resonant single-level model, often applied to single-molecule junctions. One of our conclusions is that stable junctions may form from solvents as well and that both conductance-distance traces and current-voltage characteristics have to be studied to distinguish between contacts of solvent molecules and of molecules under study.
Details
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1055-1067 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Beilstein journal of nanotechnology |
Volume | 7 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Electrochemical environment, Mechanically controllable break junction, Molecular electronics, Polar solvent, Single-molecule junctions