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Gao T, Liu Y, Zhang X, Bai J, Hong W. Preparation and Application of Microelectrodes at the Single-Molecule Scale. Chem Asian J 2021; 16:253-260. [PMID: 33378120 DOI: 10.1002/asia.202001372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Molecular electronics offers a potential solution for the miniaturization of electronics beyond conventional silicon electronics. A key goal of molecular electronics is to fabricate the single-molecule junction with the functions of electronic units. The term "molecular junction" means a molecular cluster or a single molecule incorporated between two microelectrodes, and electrons are transported across it. The methods of constructing molecular junctions dynamically were developed, such as STM-BJ, AFM-BJ, and MCBJ, providing precise control of the gap and easy measurement of thousands of junctions. Electrodes based on these techniques are commonly called microelectrodes because at least one dimension is on the micron scale. In this manuscript, we summarize the preparation methods of microelectrodes and their application in single-molecule measurements. In addition, we discuss the electrode factor that influences the molecular electrical properties, such as material, curvature radius and cone angle, and further provide a brief prospect of molecular electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengyang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Yuyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Xueqing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Jie Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China
| | - Wenjing Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, P. R. China.,Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
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Huang JR, Huang H, Tao CP, Zheng JF, Yuan Y, Hong ZW, Shao Y, Niu ZJ, Chen JZ, Zhou XS. Controlling Contact Configuration of Carboxylic Acid-Based Molecular Junctions Through Side Group. NANOSCALE RESEARCH LETTERS 2019; 14:253. [PMID: 31350621 PMCID: PMC6660542 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-019-3087-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, the contact configuration of single molecular junction is controlled through side group, which is explored by electrochemical jump-to-contact STM break junction. The conductance values of 2-methoxy-1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid (2-M-1,3-BDC) is around 10-3.65 G0, which is different from that of 5-methoxy-1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid (5-M-1,3-BDC) with 10-3.20 G0. Interestingly, the conductance value of 2-M-1,3-BDC is the same as that of 1,3-benzenedicarboxaldehyde (1,3-BDCA), while single molecular junctions of 5-M-1,3-BDC and 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid (1,3-BDC) give out similar conductance value. Since 1,3-BDCA binds to the Cu electrode through one oxygen atom, the dominated contact configuration for 1,3-BDC is through two oxygen atoms. The different conductance values between 2-M-1,3-BDC and 5-M-1,3-BDC can be attributed to the different contact configurations caused by the position of the side group. The current work provides a feasible way to control the contact configuration between the anchoring group and the electrode, which may be useful in designing future molecular electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Ren Huang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
| | - Hong Huang
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
| | - Cai-Ping Tao
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
| | - Ju-Fang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
| | - Ying Yuan
- Department of Physics, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Ze-Wen Hong
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China.
| | - Yong Shao
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
| | - Zhen-Jiang Niu
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
| | - Jing-Zhe Chen
- Department of Physics, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
- Zhejiang Tianyan Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 311215, China.
| | - Xiao-Shun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China.
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Peng LL, Chen F, Hong ZW, Zheng JF, Fillaud L, Yuan Y, Huang ML, Shao Y, Zhou XS, Chen JZ, Maisonhaute E. Precise tuning of single molecule conductance in an electrochemical environment. NANOSCALE 2018; 10:7026-7032. [PMID: 29611859 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr00625c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Tuning of molecular conductance in a liquid environment is a hot topic in molecular electronics. In this article, we explore a new concept where the Fermi level positions of the metallic ends are varied simply by modifying the electroactive salt concentration in solution. We rely on the electrochemical scanning tunneling microscope break junction method that allows the construction in solution of copper atomic contacts that can be then bridged by single molecules. The experimental conductance evolution is first confronted with an analytical formulation that allows the deduction of the molecule's LUMO position and electronic coupling factors. These parameters are in close agreement with those obtained by independent DFT calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- L-L Peng
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321004, China.
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Chen F, Peng LL, Hong ZW, Mao JC, Zheng JF, Shao Y, Niu ZJ, Zhou XS. Comparative Study on Single-Molecule Junctions of Alkane- and Benzene-Based Molecules with Carboxylic Acid/Aldehyde as the Anchoring Groups. NANOSCALE RESEARCH LETTERS 2016; 11:380. [PMID: 27566686 PMCID: PMC5001964 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-016-1596-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We have measured the alkane and benzene-based molecules with aldehyde and carboxylic acid as anchoring groups by using the electrochemical jump-to-contact scanning tunneling microscopy break junction (ECSTM-BJ) approach. The results show that molecule with benzene backbone has better peak shape and intensity than those with alkane backbone. Typically, high junction formation probability for same anchoring group (aldehyde and carboxylic acid) with benzene backbone is found, which contributes to the stronger attractive interaction between Cu and molecules with benzene backbone. The present work shows the import role of backbone in junction, which can guide the design molecule to form effective junction for studying molecular electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Chen
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321004, China
| | - Lin-Lu Peng
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321004, China
| | - Ze-Wen Hong
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321004, China
| | - Jin-Chuan Mao
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321004, China
| | - Ju-Fang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321004, China
| | - Yong Shao
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321004, China
| | - Zhen-Jiang Niu
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321004, China
| | - Xiao-Shun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of Education for Advanced Catalysis Materials, Institute of Physical Chemistry, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321004, China.
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Tang Y, Zeng X. Electrochemical Oxidation of Hydrogen in Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide Ionic Liquids under Anaerobic and Aerobic Conditions. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2016; 120:23542-23551. [PMID: 29043009 PMCID: PMC5641470 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.6b07067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The electrochemical behavior of hydrogen oxidation on a platinum electrode in two aprotic room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs)-1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [Bmim][NTf2] and 1-butyl-1-methyl-pyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [Bmpy][NTf2]-was investigated in both anaerobic and aerobic conditions. At platinum electrode in the ILs, the first step of hydrogen oxidation is the formation of Pt-H(ad) (the Tafel step), which is similar to those observed in the aqueous electrolytes. However, there are differences in the oxidation steps (the Heyrovsky and Volmer steps). In ILs, the oxidation of Pt-H(ad) forms a hydrogen radical and a proton rather than a proton or a water in aqueous acid or alkaline electrolytes, respectively. This difference is significant as it results in a completely different following reaction pathway in the anaerobic vs aerobic conditions. A coupled chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen oxidation intermediates was observed in aerobic conditions which has a correlation with hydrogen concentrations. Furthermore, the overall rate of hydrogen oxidation is shown to be much higher in [Bmpy][NTf2] than that of [Bmim][NTf2], which is rationalized as the result of both higher solubility of hydrogen and the unique IL-electrode interface structure which promotes the hydrogen adsorption in [Bmpy][NTf2] than that of [Bmim][NTf2]. This study is the first example showing that hydrogen oxidation mechanism in aprotic ILs follows two different oxidation mechanisms in anaerobic and aerobic conditions.
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Quantum interference effect of single-molecule conductance influenced by insertion of different alkyl length. Electrochem commun 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.elecom.2016.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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