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Reimers JR, Li T, Birvé AP, Yang L, Aragonès AC, Fallon T, Kosov DS, Darwish N. Controlling piezoresistance in single molecules through the isomerisation of bullvalenes. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6089. [PMID: 37789027 PMCID: PMC10547723 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41674-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanoscale electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) displaying piezoresistance offer unique measurement opportunities at the sub-cellular level, in detectors and sensors, and in emerging generations of integrated electronic devices. Here, we show a single-molecule NEMS piezoresistor that operates utilising constitutional and conformational isomerisation of individual diaryl-bullvalene molecules and can be switched at 850 Hz. Observations are made using scanning tunnelling microscopy break junction (STMBJ) techniques to characterise piezoresistance, combined with blinking (current-time) experiments that follow single-molecule reactions in real time. A kinetic Monte Carlo methodology (KMC) is developed to simulate isomerisation on the experimental timescale, parameterised using density-functional theory (DFT) combined with non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) calculations. Results indicate that piezoresistance is controlled by both constitutional and conformational isomerisation, occurring at rates that are either fast (equilibrium) or slow (non-equilibrium) compared to the experimental timescale. Two different types of STMBJ traces are observed, one typical of traditional experiments that are interpreted in terms of intramolecular isomerisation occurring on stable tipped-shaped metal-contact junctions, and another attributed to arise from junction‒interface restructuring induced by bullvalene isomerisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey R Reimers
- International Centre for Quantum and Molecular Structures and the Department of Physics, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
- School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.
| | - Tiexin Li
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - André P Birvé
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Likun Yang
- International Centre for Quantum and Molecular Structures and the Department of Physics, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Albert C Aragonès
- Department of Materials Science and Physical Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Marti i Franquès 1, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Thomas Fallon
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
| | - Daniel S Kosov
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia.
| | - Nadim Darwish
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia.
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Li M, Fu H, Wang B, Cheng J, Hu W, Yin B, Peng P, Zhou S, Gao X, Jia C, Guo X. Dipole-Modulated Charge Transport through PNP-Type Single-Molecule Junctions. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:20797-20803. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c08664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mingyao Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, National Biomedical Imaging Center, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, 292 Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing100871, P. R. China
| | - Huanyan Fu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, National Biomedical Imaging Center, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, 292 Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing100871, P. R. China
- Center of Single-Molecule Sciences, Institute of Modern Optics, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin300350, P. R. China
| | - Boyu Wang
- Center of Single-Molecule Sciences, Institute of Modern Optics, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin300350, P. R. China
| | - Jie Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Self-Assembly Chemistry for Organic Functional Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai200032, P. R. China
| | - Weilin Hu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, National Biomedical Imaging Center, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, 292 Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing100871, P. R. China
| | - Bing Yin
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, National Biomedical Imaging Center, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, 292 Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing100871, P. R. China
| | - Peizhen Peng
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Self-Assembly Chemistry for Organic Functional Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai200032, P. R. China
| | - Shuyao Zhou
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, National Biomedical Imaging Center, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, 292 Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing100871, P. R. China
| | - Xike Gao
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Self-Assembly Chemistry for Organic Functional Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai200032, P. R. China
| | - Chuancheng Jia
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, National Biomedical Imaging Center, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, 292 Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing100871, P. R. China
- Center of Single-Molecule Sciences, Institute of Modern Optics, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin300350, P. R. China
| | - Xuefeng Guo
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, National Biomedical Imaging Center, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, 292 Chengfu Road, Haidian District, Beijing100871, P. R. China
- Center of Single-Molecule Sciences, Institute of Modern Optics, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Micro-scale Optical Information Science and Technology, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin300350, P. R. China
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Rodríguez-Galván A, Contreras-Torres FF. Scanning Tunneling Microscopy of Biological Structures: An Elusive Goal for Many Years. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:3013. [PMID: 36080050 PMCID: PMC9457988 DOI: 10.3390/nano12173013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is a technique that can be used to directly observe individual biomolecules at near-molecular scale. Within this framework, STM is of crucial significance because of its role in the structural analysis, the understanding the imaging formation, and the development of relative techniques. Four decades after its invention, it is pertinent to ask how much of the early dream has come true. In this study, we aim to overview different analyses for DNA, lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. The relevance of STM imaging is exhibited as an opportunity to assist measurements and biomolecular identification in nanobiotechnology, nanomedicine, biosensing, and other cutting-edge applications. We believe STM research is still an entire science research ecosystem for joining several areas of expertise towards a goal settlement that has been elusive for many years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Rodríguez-Galván
- Carrera de Biología, Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla 54090, Edo. Mex., Mexico
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Electro-polymerization rates of diazonium salts are dependent on the crystal orientation of the surface. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 626:985-994. [PMID: 35839679 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Electro-polymerization of diazonium salts is widely used for modifying surfaces with thin organic films. Initially this method was primarily applied to carbon, then to metals, and more recently to semiconducting Si. Unlike on other surfaces, electrochemical reduction of diazonium salts on Si, which is one of the most industrially dominant material, is not well understood. Here, we report the electrochemical reduction of diazonium salts on a range of silicon electrodes of different crystal orientations (111, 211, 311, 411, and 100). We show that the kinetics of surface reaction and the reduction potential is Si crystal-facet dependent and is more favorable in the hierarchical order (111) > (211) > (311) > (411) > (100), a finding that offers control over the surface chemistry of diazonium salts on Si. The dependence of the surface reaction kinetics on the crystal orientation was found to be directly related to differences in the potential of zero charge (PZC) of each crystal orientation, which in turn controls the adsorption of the diazonium cations prior to reduction. Another consequence of the effect of PZC on the adsorption of diazonium cations, is that molecules terminated by distal diazonium moieties form a compact film in less time and requires less reduction potentials compared to that formed from diazonium molecules terminated by only one diazo moiety. In addition, at higher concentrations of diazonium cations, the mechanism of electrochemical polymerization on the surface becomes PZC-controlled adsorption-dominated inner-sphere electron transfer while at lower concentrations, diffusion-based outer-sphere electron transfer dominates. These findings help understanding the electro-polymerization reaction of diazonium salts on Si en route towards an integrated molecular and Si electronics technology.
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Lyu J, Wong ZM, Sun H, Yang SW, Xu GQ. Self-assembled molecular nanowires on prepatterned Ge(001) surfaces. Chem Sci 2022; 13:5674-5679. [PMID: 35694329 PMCID: PMC9116370 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc00490a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
It is a long-standing goal to fabricate conductive molecular nanowires (NWs) on semiconductor surfaces. Anchoring molecules to pre-patterned surface nanostructures is a practical approach to construct molecular NWs on semiconductor surfaces. Previously, well-ordered inorganic Ge NWs were deduced to spontaneously grow onto Pt/Ge(001) surfaces after annealing at an elevated temperature. In this work, we further demonstrate that organic 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) molecular NWs can self-assemble onto the atomic NWs on Pt/Ge(001) surfaces. The outer nitrogen atoms in TCNQ molecules hybridize with under-coordinated Ge atoms in Ge NWs with an energy release of ∼1.14 eV per molecule, and electrons transfer from Ge NWs to the frontier orbitals of anchored TCNQs resulting in a negatively charged state. This largely tailors the electronic configurations of TCNQs and Pt/Ge(001) surfaces, enhancing the electron transport along the dimer row direction. The TCNQ molecular NWs coupled with the Ge NWs represent an exemplary showcase for the fabrication of molecular NWs on semiconductor surfaces. We reported a strategy for the self-assembly of molecular nanowires (NWs) on Ge(001) surfaces.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Lyu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore 3 Science Drive 3 117543 Singapore
| | - Zicong Marvin Wong
- Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology and Research 1 Fusionopolis Way, #16-16 Connexis 138632 Singapore
| | - Haicheng Sun
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore 3 Science Drive 3 117543 Singapore
| | - Shuo-Wang Yang
- Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology and Research 1 Fusionopolis Way, #16-16 Connexis 138632 Singapore
| | - Guo Qin Xu
- Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore 3 Science Drive 3 117543 Singapore
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