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Meng Q, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Chu W, Mao W, Zhang Y, Yang J, Luo Y, Dong Z, Hou JG. Local heating and Raman thermometry in a single molecule. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadl1015. [PMID: 38232173 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adl1015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Because of the nonequilibrium nature of thermal effects at the nanoscale, the characterization of local thermal effects within a single molecule is highly challenging. Here, we demonstrate a way to characterize the local thermal properties of a single fullerene (C60) molecule during current-induced heating processes through tip-enhanced anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy. Although the measured vibron populations are far from equilibrium with the environment, we can still define an "effective temperature (Teff)" statistically via a Bose-Einstein distribution, suggesting a local equilibrium within the molecule. With increased current heating, Teff is found to rise up to about 1150 K until the C60 cage is decomposed. Such a decomposition temperature is similar to that reported for ensemble C60 samples, thus justifying the validity of our methodology. Moreover, the possible reaction pathway and product can be identified because of the chemical sensitivity of Raman spectroscopy. Our findings provide a practical method for noninvasively detecting the local heating effect inside a single molecule under nonequilibrium conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiushi Meng
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230088, China
| | - Junxian Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yao Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230088, China
- School of Physics and Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Weizhe Chu
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Wenjie Mao
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230088, China
- School of Physics and Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jinlong Yang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230088, China
- School of Physics and Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yi Luo
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230088, China
- School of Physics and Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zhenchao Dong
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230088, China
- School of Physics and Department of Chemical Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - J G Hou
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Synergetic Innovation Center of Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
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2
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Meng X, Möller J, Mansouri M, Sánchez-Portal D, Garcia-Lekue A, Weismann A, Li C, Herges R, Berndt R. Controlling the Spin States of FeTBrPP on Au(111). ACS NANO 2022; 17:1268-1274. [PMID: 36440841 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c09310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Spin-flip excitations of iron porphyrin molecules on Au(111) are investigated with a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. The molecules adopt two distinct adsorption configurations on the surface that exhibit different magnetic anisotropy energies. Density functional theory calculations show that the different structures and excitation energies reflect unlike occupations of the Fe 3d levels. We demonstrate that the magnetic anisotropy energy can be controlled by changing the adsorption site, the orientation, or the tip-molecule distance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangzhi Meng
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, 24098Kiel, Germany
| | - Jenny Möller
- Otto-Diels-Institut für Organische Chemie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, 24098Kiel, Germany
| | - Masoud Mansouri
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), 20018Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Centro de Física de Materiales CSIC-UPV/EHU, 20018Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Daniel Sánchez-Portal
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), 20018Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Centro de Física de Materiales CSIC-UPV/EHU, 20018Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Aran Garcia-Lekue
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), 20018Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013Bilbao, Spain
| | - Alexander Weismann
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, 24098Kiel, Germany
| | - Chao Li
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, 24098Kiel, Germany
| | - Rainer Herges
- Otto-Diels-Institut für Organische Chemie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, 24098Kiel, Germany
| | - Richard Berndt
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, 24098Kiel, Germany
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3
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Cirera B, Wolf M, Kumagai T. Joule Heating in Single-Molecule Point Contacts Studied by Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy. ACS NANO 2022; 16:16443-16451. [PMID: 36197071 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c05642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Heating and cooling in current-carrying molecular junctions is a crucial issue in molecular electronics. The microscopic mechanism involves complex factors such as energy inputs, molecular properties, electrode materials, and molecule-electrode coupling. To gain an in-depth understanding, it is a desired experiment to assess vibrational population that represents the energy distribution stored within the molecule. Here, we demonstrate the direct observation of vibrational heating in a single C60 molecule by means of tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS). The heating of respective vibrational modes is monitored by anti-Stokes Raman scattering in the TERS spectra. The precise control of the gap distance in the single-molecule junction allows us to reveal a qualitatively different heating mechanism in distinct electron transport regimes, namely, the tunneling and single-molecule point contact (SMPC) regimes. Strong Joule heating via inelastic electron-vibration scattering occurs in the SMPC regime, whereas optical heating is predominant in the tunneling regime. The strong Joule heating at the SMPC also leads to a pronounced red shift of the Raman peak position and line width broadening. Furthermore, by examining the SMPC with several types of contact surfaces, we show that the heating efficiency is related to the current density at the SMPC and the vibrational dissipation channels into the electrode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borja Cirera
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Wolf
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195Berlin, Germany
| | - Takashi Kumagai
- Department of Physical Chemistry, Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195Berlin, Germany
- Center for Mesoscopic Sciences, Institute for Molecular Science, Okazaki444-8585, Japan
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4
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Li D, Tong Y, Bairagi K, Kelai M, Dappe YJ, Lagoute J, Girard Y, Rousset S, Repain V, Barreteau C, Brandbyge M, Smogunov A, Bellec A. Negative Differential Resistance in Spin-Crossover Molecular Devices. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:7514-7520. [PMID: 35944010 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c01934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate, based on low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy, a pronounced negative differential resistance (NDR) in spin-crossover (SCO) molecular devices, where a FeII SCO molecule is deposited on surfaces. The STM measurements reveal that the NDR is robust with respect to substrate materials, temperature, and the number of SCO layers. This indicates that the NDR is intrinsically related to the electronic structure of the SCO molecule. Experimental results are supported by density functional theory (DFT) with nonequilibrium Green's function (NEGF) calculations and a generic theoretical model. While the DFT+NEGF calculations reproduce NDR for a special atomically sharp STM tip, the effect is attributed to the energy-dependent tip density of states rather than the molecule itself. We, therefore, propose a Coulomb blockade model involving three molecular orbitals with very different spatial localization as suggested by the molecular electronic structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongzhe Li
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- CEMES, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 29 rue Jeanne Marvig, F-31055 Toulouse, France
| | - Yongfeng Tong
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques UMR7162, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Kaushik Bairagi
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques UMR7162, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Massine Kelai
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques UMR7162, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Yannick J Dappe
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, SPEC, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jérôme Lagoute
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques UMR7162, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Yann Girard
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques UMR7162, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Sylvie Rousset
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques UMR7162, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Vincent Repain
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques UMR7162, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Cyrille Barreteau
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, SPEC, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Mads Brandbyge
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Center for Nanostructured Graphene, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Amandine Bellec
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Laboratoire Matériaux et Phénomènes Quantiques UMR7162, 75013 Paris, France
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5
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Cirera B, Litman Y, Lin C, Akkoush A, Hammud A, Wolf M, Rossi M, Kumagai T. Charge Transfer-Mediated Dramatic Enhancement of Raman Scattering upon Molecular Point Contact Formation. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:2170-2176. [PMID: 35188400 PMCID: PMC8949761 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c02626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Charge-transfer enhancement of Raman scattering plays a crucial role in current-carrying molecular junctions. However, the microscopic mechanism of light scattering in such nonequilibrium systems is still imperfectly understood. Here, using low-temperature tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS), we investigate how Raman scattering evolves as a function of the gap distance in the single C60-molecule junction consisting of an Ag tip and various metal surfaces. Precise gap-distance control allows the examination of two distinct transport regimes, namely tunneling regime and molecular point contact (MPC). Simultaneous measurement of TERS and the electric current in scanning tunneling microscopy shows that the MPC formation results in dramatic Raman enhancement that enables one to observe the vibrations undetectable in the tunneling regime. This enhancement is found to commonly occur not only for coinage but also transition metal substrates. We suggest that the characteristic enhancement upon the MPC formation is rationalized by charge-transfer excitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borja Cirera
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Fritz-Haber Institute
of the Max-Planck Society, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yair Litman
- MPI
for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Chenfang Lin
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Fritz-Haber Institute
of the Max-Planck Society, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alaa Akkoush
- MPI
for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Adnan Hammud
- Department
of Inorganic Chemistry, Fritz-Haber Institute
of the Max-Planck Society, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Wolf
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Fritz-Haber Institute
of the Max-Planck Society, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mariana Rossi
- MPI
for Structure and Dynamics of Matter, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Takashi Kumagai
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, Fritz-Haber Institute
of the Max-Planck Society, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Center
for Mesoscopic Sciences, Institute for Molecular
Science, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
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7
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Michnowicz T, Borca B, Pétuya R, Schendel V, Pristl M, Pentegov I, Kraft U, Klauk H, Wahl P, Mutombo P, Jelínek P, Arnau A, Schlickum U, Kern K. Controlling Single Molecule Conductance by a Locally Induced Chemical Reaction on Individual Thiophene Units. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:6207-6212. [PMID: 31965698 PMCID: PMC7187382 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201915200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Among the prerequisites for the progress of single-molecule-based electronic devices are a better understanding of the electronic properties at the individual molecular level and the development of methods to tune the charge transport through molecular junctions. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is an ideal tool not only for the characterization, but also for the manipulation of single atoms and molecules on surfaces. The conductance through a single molecule can be measured by contacting the molecule with atomic precision and forming a molecular bridge between the metallic STM tip electrode and the metallic surface electrode. The parameters affecting the conductance are mainly related to their electronic structure and to the coupling to the metallic electrodes. Here, the experimental and theoretical analyses are focused on single tetracenothiophene molecules and demonstrate that an in situ-induced direct desulfurization reaction of the thiophene moiety strongly improves the molecular anchoring by forming covalent bonds between molecular carbon and copper surface atoms. This bond formation leads to an increase of the conductance by about 50 % compared to the initial state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Michnowicz
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State ResearchHeisenbergstrasse 170569StuttgartGermany
| | - Bogdana Borca
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State ResearchHeisenbergstrasse 170569StuttgartGermany
- National Institute of Materials PhysicsAtomistilor Strasse, No. 405A077125MagureleRomania
- Present address: Institute of Applied PhysicsTechnische Universität BraunschweigMendelssohnstrasse 238106BraunschweigGermany
| | - Rémi Pétuya
- Institution: Donostia International Physics CentrePaseo Manuel de Lardizabal 420018Donostia—San SebastiánSpain
- Present address: University of LiverpoolDepartment of ChemistryCrown StreetLiverpoolL69 7ZDUK
| | - Verena Schendel
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State ResearchHeisenbergstrasse 170569StuttgartGermany
| | - Marcel Pristl
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State ResearchHeisenbergstrasse 170569StuttgartGermany
| | - Ivan Pentegov
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State ResearchHeisenbergstrasse 170569StuttgartGermany
| | - Ulrike Kraft
- Department of Organic ElectronicsMax Planck Institute for Solid State ResearchHeisenbergstrasse 170569StuttgartGermany
- Present address: University of CambridgeCavendish LaboratoryJ J Thomson AvenueCambridgeCB3 0HEUK
| | - Hagen Klauk
- Department of Organic ElectronicsMax Planck Institute for Solid State ResearchHeisenbergstrasse 170569StuttgartGermany
| | - Peter Wahl
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State ResearchHeisenbergstrasse 170569StuttgartGermany
- SUPASchool of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of St AndrewsNorth HaughSt AndrewsKY16 9SSUK
| | - Pingo Mutombo
- Nanosurf LabInstitute of Physics of the Czech Academy of ScienceCukrovarnicka 1016253Praha 6Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Jelínek
- Nanosurf LabInstitute of Physics of the Czech Academy of ScienceCukrovarnicka 1016253Praha 6Czech Republic
| | - Andrés Arnau
- Institution: Donostia International Physics CentrePaseo Manuel de Lardizabal 420018Donostia—San SebastiánSpain
- UPV/EHU and Material Physics Center (MPC)Centro Mixto CSIC-UPV/EHUPaseo Manuel de Lardizabal 520018Donostia—San SebastiánSpain
| | - Uta Schlickum
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State ResearchHeisenbergstrasse 170569StuttgartGermany
- Institute of Applied PhysicsTechnische Universität BraunschweigMendelssohnstraße 238106BraunschweigGermany
| | - Klaus Kern
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State ResearchHeisenbergstrasse 170569StuttgartGermany
- Institut de PhysiqueÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)EPFL SB IPHYS-Direction Bâtiment PH, Station 31015LausanneSwitzerland
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8
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Michnowicz T, Borca B, Pétuya R, Schendel V, Pristl M, Pentegov I, Kraft U, Klauk H, Wahl P, Mutombo P, Jelínek P, Arnau A, Schlickum U, Kern K. Controlling Single Molecule Conductance by a Locally Induced Chemical Reaction on Individual Thiophene Units. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201915200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Michnowicz
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State Research Heisenbergstrasse 1 70569 Stuttgart Germany
| | - Bogdana Borca
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State Research Heisenbergstrasse 1 70569 Stuttgart Germany
- National Institute of Materials Physics Atomistilor Strasse, No. 405A 077125 Magurele Romania
- Present address: Institute of Applied PhysicsTechnische Universität Braunschweig Mendelssohnstrasse 2 38106 Braunschweig Germany
| | - Rémi Pétuya
- Institution: Donostia International Physics Centre Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4 20018 Donostia—San Sebastián Spain
- Present address: University of LiverpoolDepartment of Chemistry Crown Street Liverpool L69 7ZD UK
| | - Verena Schendel
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State Research Heisenbergstrasse 1 70569 Stuttgart Germany
| | - Marcel Pristl
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State Research Heisenbergstrasse 1 70569 Stuttgart Germany
| | - Ivan Pentegov
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State Research Heisenbergstrasse 1 70569 Stuttgart Germany
| | - Ulrike Kraft
- Department of Organic ElectronicsMax Planck Institute for Solid State Research Heisenbergstrasse 1 70569 Stuttgart Germany
- Present address: University of CambridgeCavendish Laboratory J J Thomson Avenue Cambridge CB3 0HE UK
| | - Hagen Klauk
- Department of Organic ElectronicsMax Planck Institute for Solid State Research Heisenbergstrasse 1 70569 Stuttgart Germany
| | - Peter Wahl
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State Research Heisenbergstrasse 1 70569 Stuttgart Germany
- SUPASchool of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of St Andrews North Haugh St Andrews KY16 9SS UK
| | - Pingo Mutombo
- Nanosurf LabInstitute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Science Cukrovarnicka 10 16253 Praha 6 Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Jelínek
- Nanosurf LabInstitute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Science Cukrovarnicka 10 16253 Praha 6 Czech Republic
| | - Andrés Arnau
- Institution: Donostia International Physics Centre Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4 20018 Donostia—San Sebastián Spain
- UPV/EHU and Material Physics Center (MPC)Centro Mixto CSIC-UPV/EHU Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5 20018 Donostia—San Sebastián Spain
| | - Uta Schlickum
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State Research Heisenbergstrasse 1 70569 Stuttgart Germany
- Institute of Applied PhysicsTechnische Universität Braunschweig Mendelssohnstraße 2 38106 Braunschweig Germany
| | - Klaus Kern
- Department of Nanoscale ScienceMax Planck Institute for Solid State Research Heisenbergstrasse 1 70569 Stuttgart Germany
- Institut de PhysiqueÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) EPFL SB IPHYS-Direction Bâtiment PH, Station 3 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
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9
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Wei S, Wang Z, Jin J, Xu H, Lu Y, Wang L. Assembling fullerene into nanostructures over micrometer scale with atomic precision. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2018; 29:395301. [PMID: 29989565 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/aad25a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Assembling large organic molecules into predesigned structures for nanoscale devices is a long-standing challenge. Here, we present the atom-scale precise repositions of individual fullerene molecules and molecule transportation over the micrometer scale on a Si(111) surface via reproducible and reversible vertical manipulation by a scanning tunneling microscopy tip. A two-rod abacus consisting of ten fullerene molecules was used to perform arithmetic operations with double digits. This opens the door for the use of larger organic molecules displaying intrinsic characteristics as complex molecular devices with novel functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Wei
- Department of Physics, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, People's Republic of China. School of Materials and Engineering, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, People's Republic of China
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10
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Kaya D, Gao J, Fard MR, Palmer RE, Guo Q. Controlled Manipulation of Magic Number Gold-Fullerene Clusters Using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2018; 34:8388-8392. [PMID: 29924615 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.8b01519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We report controlled manipulation of magic number gold-fullerene clusters, (C60) m-(Au) n, on a Au(111) substrate at 110 K using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Each cluster consists of a two-dimensional gold island of nAu atoms confined by a frame of mC60 molecules. Using STM, C60 molecules are extracted from the molecular frame one at a time. The extraction is conducted by driving the STM tip into the cluster, leading to one of the molecules being squeezed out of the frame. Unlike at room temperature, the extracted molecules do not move away from the cluster because of the lack of thermal energy at 110 K; they are found to be attached to the outside of the frame. Reversible manipulation is also possible by pushing an extracted molecule back into the frame. This reversible manipulation is possible only for molecules from the edge of the cluster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dogan Kaya
- School of Physics and Astronomy , University of Birmingham , Edgbaston , Birmingham B15 2TT , U.K
- Department of Electronics and Automation, Vocational School of Adana , Cukurova University , 01160 Cukurova , Adana , Turkey
| | - Jianzhi Gao
- School of Physics and Information Technology , Shaanxi Normal University , Xi'an 710119 , China
| | - Mahroo Rokni Fard
- School of Physics and Astronomy , University of Birmingham , Edgbaston , Birmingham B15 2TT , U.K
| | - Richard E Palmer
- College of Engineering , Swansea University , Bay Campus , Fabian Way, Swansea SA1 8EN , U.K
| | - Quanmin Guo
- School of Physics and Astronomy , University of Birmingham , Edgbaston , Birmingham B15 2TT , U.K
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11
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Kaya D, Bao D, Palmer RE, Du S, Guo Q. Tip-triggered Thermal Cascade Manipulation of Magic Number Gold-Fullerene Clusters in the Scanning Tunnelling Microscope. NANO LETTERS 2017; 17:6171-6176. [PMID: 28906122 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b02802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate cascade manipulation between magic number gold-fullerene hybrid clusters by channelling thermal energy into a specific reaction pathway with a trigger from the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM). The (C60)m-Aun clusters, formed via self-assembly on the Au(111) surface, consist of n Au atoms and m C60 molecules; the three smallest stable clusters are (C60)7-Au19, (C60)10-Au35, and (C60)12-Au49. The manipulation cascade was initiated by driving the STM tip into the cluster followed by tip retraction. Temporary, partial fragmentation of the cluster was followed by reorganization. Self-selection of the correct numbers of Au atoms and C60 molecules led to the formation of the next magic number cluster. This cascade manipulation is efficient and facile with an extremely high selectivity. It offers a way to perform on-surface tailoring of atomic and molecular clusters by harnessing thermal energy, which is known as the principal enemy of the quest to achieve ultimate structural control with the STM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dogan Kaya
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham , Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
- Physics Department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Sakarya University , Serdivan, Sakarya 54050, Turkey
| | - Deliang Bao
- Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, China
- The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049, China
| | - Richard E Palmer
- College of Engineering, Swansea University , Bay Campus, Fabian Way, Swansea SA1 8EN, United Kingdom
| | - Shixuan Du
- Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, China
| | - Quanmin Guo
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham , Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
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12
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Wu Q, Sadeghi H, García-Suárez VM, Ferrer J, Lambert CJ. Thermoelectricity in vertical graphene-C 60-graphene architectures. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11680. [PMID: 28916809 PMCID: PMC5601468 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10938-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies of single-molecule thermoelectricity have identified families of high-performance molecules. However, in order to translate this discovery into practical thin-film energy-harvesting devices, there is a need for an understanding of the fundamental issues arising when such junctions are placed in parallel. This is relevant because controlled scalability might be used to boost electrical and thermoelectric performance over the current single-junction paradigm. As a first step in this direction, we investigate here the properties of two C60 molecules placed in parallel and sandwiched between top and bottom graphene electrodes. In contrast with classical conductors, we find that increasing the number of parallel junctions from one to two can cause the electrical conductance to increase by more than a factor of 2. Furthermore, we show that the Seebeck coefficient is sensitive to the number of parallel molecules sandwiched between the electrodes, whereas classically it should be unchanged. This non-classical behaviour of the electrical conductance and Seebeck coefficient are due to inter-junction quantum interference, mediated by the electrodes, which leads to an enhanced response in these vertical molecular devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Wu
- Quantum Technology Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YB, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Hatef Sadeghi
- Quantum Technology Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YB, Lancaster, United Kingdom.
| | - Víctor M García-Suárez
- Departamento de Física, Universidad de Oviedo, 33007, Oviedo, Spain.,Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CSIC-Universidad de Oviedo), El Entrego, 33940, Asturias, Spain
| | - Jaime Ferrer
- Departamento de Física, Universidad de Oviedo, 33007, Oviedo, Spain. .,Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CSIC-Universidad de Oviedo), El Entrego, 33940, Asturias, Spain.
| | - Colin J Lambert
- Quantum Technology Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YB, Lancaster, United Kingdom.
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13
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Lü JT, Brandbyge M, Berndt R. Mechanochemistry Induced Using Force Exerted by a Functionalized Microscope Tip. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201704940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Zhang
- Key Laboratory for the Physics and Chemistry of Nanodevices; Department of Electronics; Peking University; Beijing 100871 P.R. China
| | - Yongfeng Wang
- Key Laboratory for the Physics and Chemistry of Nanodevices; Department of Electronics; Peking University; Beijing 100871 P.R. China
| | - Jing-Tao Lü
- School of Physics and Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center; Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Wuhan 430074 China
| | - Mads Brandbyge
- DTU-Nanotech, Department of Micro- and Nanotechnology; Technical University of Denmark; 2800 Kongens Lyngby Denmark
| | - Richard Berndt
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik; Christian-Albrechts Universität zu Kiel; 24098 Kiel Germany
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14
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Mechanochemistry Induced Using Force Exerted by a Functionalized Microscope Tip. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:11769-11773. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201704940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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15
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Kaur RP, Sawhney RS, Engles D. Electrical characterization of C 28 fullerene junctions formed with group 1B metal electrodes. J Mol Graph Model 2017; 76:296-304. [PMID: 28750306 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2017.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 07/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We present an atomistic theory of electronic transport through single molecular junctions based on smallest stable fullerene molecule, C28. The electronic properties of single molecular junctions critically depend on the nature of electrode material. The two probe device is modeled by constraining C28 between two semi-infinite metal electrodes, from group 1B of periodic table, copper, silver and gold. We have highlighted the correlated phenomena of resonant conduction and current driven dynamics in molecular junctions using extendend Huckel theory in combination with non equilibrium Green's function framework. We conclude strong dependence of conductance on transmissions, which leads to oscillating conductance spectrum. An interesting interplay between conducting channels and different degrees of spatial localization and delocalization of molecular orbitals is evinced. The physical origin of current and conductance of so-formed C28 molecular junctions is discussed in detail by analysing their density of states, transmission spectra, molecular orbital analysis, rectification ratio and molecular projected self consistent Hamiltonian eigen states at different operating voltages ranging from -2V to +2V.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupan Preet Kaur
- Department of Electronics Technology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India.
| | | | - Derick Engles
- Department of Electronics Technology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India.
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16
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Brand J, Ribeiro P, Néel N, Kirchner S, Kröger J. Impact of Atomic-Scale Contact Geometry on Andreev Reflection. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2017; 118:107001. [PMID: 28339246 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.118.107001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Charge transport has been examined in junctions comprising the normal-metal tip of a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope, the surface of a conventional superconductor, and adsorbed C_{60} molecules. The Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer energy gap gradually evolves into a zero-bias peak with decreasing electrode separation. The peak is assigned to the spectroscopic signature of Andreev reflection. The conductance due to Andreev reflection is determined by the atomic termination of the tip apex and the molecular adsorption orientation. Transport calculations unveil the finite temperature and the strong molecule-electrode hybridization as the origin to the surprisingly good agreement between spectroscopic data and the Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk model that was conceived for macroscopic point contacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Brand
- Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Ilmenau, D-98693 Ilmenau, Germany
| | - P Ribeiro
- CeFEMA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - N Néel
- Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Ilmenau, D-98693 Ilmenau, Germany
| | - S Kirchner
- Center for Correlated Matter, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - J Kröger
- Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Ilmenau, D-98693 Ilmenau, Germany
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17
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A robust molecular probe for Ångstrom-scale analytics in liquids. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12403. [PMID: 27516157 PMCID: PMC4990633 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, nanomaterial profiling using a single-molecule-terminated scanning probe is performed at the vacuum–solid interface often at a few Kelvin, but is not a notion immediately associated with liquid–solid interface at room temperature. Here, using a scanning tunnelling probe functionalized with a single C60 molecule stabilized in a high-density liquid, we resolve low-dimensional surface defects, atomic interfaces and capture Ångstrom-level bond-length variations in single-layer graphene and MoS2. Atom-by-atom controllable imaging contrast is demonstrated at room temperature and the electronic structure of the C60–metal probe complex within the encompassing liquid molecules is clarified using density functional theory. Our findings demonstrates that operating a robust single-molecular probe is not restricted to ultra-high vacuum and cryogenic settings. Hence the scope of high-precision analytics can be extended towards resolving sub-molecular features of organic elements and gauging ambient compatibility of emerging layered materials with atomic-scale sensitivity under experimentally less stringent conditions. Single-molecule-terminated scanning probes typically operate under ultra-high vacuum conditions at low temperatures. Here, the authors show that tips functionalized with C60 can image single-layer graphene and MoS2 with high definition in a liquid environment at room temperature
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18
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Meierott S, Néel N, Kröger J. Spectroscopic Line Shapes of Vibrational Quanta in the Presence of Molecular Resonances. J Phys Chem Lett 2016; 7:2388-2393. [PMID: 27280313 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b00923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Line shapes of molecular vibrational quanta in inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy may indicate the strength of electron-vibration coupling, the hybridization of the molecule with its environment, and the degree of vibrational damping by electron-hole pair excitation. Bare as well as C60-terminated Pb tips of a scanning tunneling microscope and clean as well as C60-covered Pb(111) surfaces were used in low-temperature experiments. Depending on the overlap of orbital and vibrational spectral ranges different spectroscopic line shapes of molecular vibrational quanta were observed. The energy range covered by the molecular resonance was altered by modifying the adsorption configuration of the molecule terminating the tip apex. Concomitantly, the line shapes of different vibrational modes were affected. The reported observations represent an experimental proof to theoretical predictions on the contribution from resonant processes to inelastic electron tunneling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Meierott
- Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Ilmenau , D-98693 Ilmenau, Germany
| | - Nicolas Néel
- Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Ilmenau , D-98693 Ilmenau, Germany
| | - Jörg Kröger
- Institut für Physik, Technische Universität Ilmenau , D-98693 Ilmenau, Germany
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19
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Okuyama H, Kitaguchi Y, Hattori T, Ueda Y, Ferrer NG, Hatta S, Aruga T. Adsorbed states of chlorophenol on Cu(110) and controlled switching of single-molecule junctions. J Chem Phys 2016; 144:244703. [PMID: 27369529 DOI: 10.1063/1.4954409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
A molecular junction of substituted benzene (chlorophenol) is fabricated and controlled by using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Prior to the junction formation, the bonding geometry of the molecule on the surface is characterized by STM and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). EELS shows that the OH group of chlorophenol is dissociated on Cu(110) and that the molecule is bonded nearly flat to the surface via an O atom, with the Cl group intact. We demonstrate controlled contact of an STM tip to the "available" Cl group and lift-up of the molecule while it is anchored to the surface via an O atom. The asymmetric bonding motifs of the molecule to the electrodes allow for reversible control of the junction.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Okuyama
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Y Kitaguchi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - T Hattori
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Y Ueda
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - N G Ferrer
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - S Hatta
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - T Aruga
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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20
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Scheil K, Gopakumar TG, Bahrenburg J, Temps F, Maurer RJ, Reuter K, Berndt R. Switching of an Azobenzene-Tripod Molecule on Ag(111). J Phys Chem Lett 2016; 7:2080-2084. [PMID: 27193044 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b01011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The trans-cis isomerization makes azobenzene (AB) a robust molecular switch. Once adsorbed to a metal, however, the switching is inefficient or absent due to rapid excited-state quenching or loss of the trans-cis bistability. We find that tris-[4-(phenylazo)-phenyl]-amine is a rather efficient switch on Ag(111). Using scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy at submolecular resolution along with density functional theory calculations, we show that the switching process is no trans-cis isomerization but rather a reorientation of the N-N bond of an AB unit. It proceeds through a twisting motion of the azo-bridge that leads to a lateral shift of a phenyl ring. Thus, the role of the Ag substrate is ambivalent. While it suppresses the original bistability of the azobenzene units, it creates a new one by inducing a barrier for the rotation of the N-N bond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Scheil
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität , 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Julia Bahrenburg
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität , 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | - Friedrich Temps
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität , 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | - Reinhard Johann Maurer
- Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Chemie, Technische Unversität München , 85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Karsten Reuter
- Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Chemie, Technische Unversität München , 85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Richard Berndt
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität , 24098 Kiel, Germany
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21
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Sweetman A, Rashid MA, Jarvis SP, Dunn JL, Rahe P, Moriarty P. Visualizing the orientational dependence of an intermolecular potential. Nat Commun 2016; 7:10621. [PMID: 26879386 PMCID: PMC4757755 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Scanning probe microscopy can now be used to map the properties of single molecules with intramolecular precision by functionalization of the apex of the scanning probe tip with a single atom or molecule. Here we report on the mapping of the three-dimensional potential between fullerene (C60) molecules in different relative orientations, with sub-Angstrom resolution, using dynamic force microscopy (DFM). We introduce a visualization method which is capable of directly imaging the variation in equilibrium binding energy of different molecular orientations. We model the interaction using both a simple approach based around analytical Lennard-Jones potentials, and with dispersion-force-corrected density functional theory (DFT), and show that the positional variation in the binding energy between the molecules is dominated by the onset of repulsive interactions. Our modelling suggests that variations in the dispersion interaction are masked by repulsive interactions even at displacements significantly larger than the equilibrium intermolecular separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Sweetman
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Mohammad A. Rashid
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Samuel P. Jarvis
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Janette L. Dunn
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Philipp Rahe
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Philip Moriarty
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
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22
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Ormaza M, Robles R, Bachellier N, Abufager P, Lorente N, Limot L. On-Surface Engineering of a Magnetic Organometallic Nanowire. NANO LETTERS 2016; 16:588-593. [PMID: 26650920 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b04280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The manipulation of the molecular spin state by atom doping is an attractive strategy to confer desirable magnetic properties to molecules. Here, we present the formation of novel magnetic metallocenes by following this approach. In particular, two different on-surface procedures to build isolated and layer-integrated Co-ferrocene (CoFc) molecules on a metallic substrate via atomic manipulation and atom deposition are shown. The structure as well as the electronic properties of the so-formed molecule are investigated combining scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy with density functional theory calculations. It is found that unlike single ferrocene a CoFc molecule possesses a magnetic moment as revealed by the Kondo effect. These results correspond to the first controlled procedure toward the development of tailored metallocene-based nanowires with a desired chemical composition, which are predicted to be promising materials for molecular spintronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maider Ormaza
- IPCMS, CNRS UMR 7504, Université de Strasbourg , 67034 Strasbourg, France
| | - Roberto Robles
- ICN2 - Institut Català de Nanociéncia i Nanotecnologia , Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
| | - Nicolas Bachellier
- IPCMS, CNRS UMR 7504, Université de Strasbourg , 67034 Strasbourg, France
| | - Paula Abufager
- ICN2 - Institut Català de Nanociéncia i Nanotecnologia , Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
- Instituto de Física de Rosario, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) and Universidad Nacional de Rosario , Avenida Pellegrini 250 (2000) Rosario, Argentina
| | - Nicolás Lorente
- ICN2 - Institut Català de Nanociéncia i Nanotecnologia , Campus UAB, 08193 Bellaterra (Barcelona), Spain
- Centro de Física de Materiales CFM/MPC (CSIC-UPV/EHU) , Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) , Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Laurent Limot
- IPCMS, CNRS UMR 7504, Université de Strasbourg , 67034 Strasbourg, France
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23
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Fingerprinting Electronic Molecular Complexes in Liquid. Sci Rep 2016; 6:19009. [PMID: 26743542 PMCID: PMC4705545 DOI: 10.1038/srep19009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Predicting the electronic framework of an organic molecule under practical conditions is essential if the molecules are to be wired in a realistic circuit. This demands a clear description of the molecular energy levels and dynamics as it adapts to the feedback from its evolving chemical environment and the surface topology. Here, we address this issue by monitoring in real-time the structural stability and intrinsic molecular resonance states of fullerene (C60)-based hybrid molecules in the presence of the solvent. Energetic levels of C60 hybrids are resolved by in situ scanning tunnelling spectroscopy with an energy resolution in the order of 0.1 eV at room-temperature. An ultra-thin organic spacer layer serves to limit contact metal-molecule energy overlap. The measured molecular conductance gap spread is statistically benchmarked against first principles electronic structure calculations and used to quantify the diversity in electronic species within a standard population of molecules. These findings provide important progress towards understanding conduction mechanisms at a single-molecular level and in serving as useful guidelines for rational design of robust nanoscale devices based on functional organic molecules.
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24
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Papior N, Gunst T, Stradi D, Brandbyge M. Manipulating the voltage drop in graphene nanojunctions using a gate potential. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016; 18:1025-31. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp04613k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Graphene is an attractive electrode material to contact nanostructured devices. Electrostatically gating a graphene device shows a control of the potential drop dependent on electrode polarities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Papior
- Department of Nanotech
- Technical University of Denmark
- Kgs. Lyngby
- Denmark
- Center for Nanostructured Graphene (CNG)
| | - Tue Gunst
- Department of Nanotech
- Technical University of Denmark
- Kgs. Lyngby
- Denmark
- Center for Nanostructured Graphene (CNG)
| | - Daniele Stradi
- Department of Nanotech
- Technical University of Denmark
- Kgs. Lyngby
- Denmark
- Center for Nanostructured Graphene (CNG)
| | - Mads Brandbyge
- Department of Nanotech
- Technical University of Denmark
- Kgs. Lyngby
- Denmark
- Center for Nanostructured Graphene (CNG)
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25
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Tuning the conductance of H2O@C60 by position of the encapsulated H2O. Sci Rep 2015; 5:17932. [PMID: 26643873 PMCID: PMC4995735 DOI: 10.1038/srep17932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The change of conductance of single-molecule junction in response to various external stimuli is the fundamental mechanism for the single-molecule electronic devices with multiple functionalities. We propose the concept that the conductance of molecular systems can be tuned from inside. The conductance is varied in C60 with encapsulated H2O, H2O@C60. The transport properties of the H2O@C60-based nanostructure sandwiched between electrodes are studied using first-principles calculations combined with the non-equilibrium Green’s function formalism. Our results show that the conductance of the H2O@C60 is sensitive to the position of the H2O and its dipole direction inside the cage with changes in conductance up to 20%. Our study paves a way for the H2O@C60 molecule to be a new platform for novel molecule-based electronics and sensors.
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26
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Hauptmann N, González C, Mohn F, Gross L, Meyer G, Berndt R. Interactions between two C60 molecules measured by scanning probe microscopies. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 26:445703. [PMID: 26457978 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/26/44/445703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
C60-functionalized tips are used to probe C60 molecules on Cu(111) with scanning tunneling and atomic force microscopy. Distinct and complex intramolecular contrasts are found. Maximal attractive forces are observed when for both molecules a [6,6] bond faces a hexagon of the other molecule. Density functional theory calculations including parameterized van der Waals interactions corroborate the observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Hauptmann
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, D-24098 Kiel, Germany. Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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27
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Zhu C, Wang X. Transport properties of the H2O@C60-dimer-based junction. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2015; 27:375301. [PMID: 26325223 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/27/37/375301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Theoretical predictions play an important role in finding potential applications in molecular electronics. Fullerenes have a number of potential applications, and the charge flow from a single C60 molecule to another becomes more versatile and more interesting after doping. Here, we report the conductance of two H2O@C60 molecules in series order and how the number of encapsulated water molecules influences the transport properties of the junction. Encapsulating an H2O molecule into one of the C60 cages increases the conductance of the dimer. Negative differential resistance is found in the dimer systems, and its peak-to-valley current ratio depends on the number of encapsulated H2O molecules. The conductance of the C60 dimer and the H2O@C60 dimer is two orders of magnitude smaller than that of the C60 monomer. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the conductance of the molecular junctions based on the H2O@C60 dimer can be tuned by moving the encapsulated H2O molecules. The conductance is H2O-position dependent. Our findings indicate that H2O@C60 can be used as a building block in C60-based molecular electronic devices and sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengbo Zhu
- Spintronic and Electronic Materials Group, Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, Australian Institute for Innovative Materials, University of Wollongong, North Wollongong, New South Wales 2500, Australia
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28
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Reecht G, Bulou H, Scheurer F, Speisser V, Mathevet F, González C, Dappe YJ, Schull G. Pulling and Stretching a Molecular Wire to Tune its Conductance. J Phys Chem Lett 2015; 6:2987-2992. [PMID: 26267192 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.5b01283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A scanning tunnelling microscope is used to pull a polythiophene wire from a Au(111) surface while measuring the current traversing the junction. Abrupt current increases measured during the lifting procedure are associated with the detachment of molecular subunits, in apparent contradiction with the expected exponential decrease of the conductance with wire length. Ab initio simulations reproduce the experimental data and demonstrate that this unexpected behavior is due to release of mechanical stress in the wire, paving the way to mechanically gated single-molecule electronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Reecht
- †IPCMS de Strasbourg, UMR 7504 (CNRS - Université de Strasbourg), 67034 Strasbourg, France
| | - Hervé Bulou
- †IPCMS de Strasbourg, UMR 7504 (CNRS - Université de Strasbourg), 67034 Strasbourg, France
| | - Fabrice Scheurer
- †IPCMS de Strasbourg, UMR 7504 (CNRS - Université de Strasbourg), 67034 Strasbourg, France
| | - Virginie Speisser
- †IPCMS de Strasbourg, UMR 7504 (CNRS - Université de Strasbourg), 67034 Strasbourg, France
| | - Fabrice Mathevet
- ‡Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire, Chimie des Polymères, UMR 8232, (CNRS - Université Pierre et Marie Curie), 75252 Paris, France
| | - César González
- §Service de Physique de l'Etat Condensé, DSM/IRAMIS/SPEC, CNRS UMR 3680, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif sur Yvette cedex, France
| | - Yannick J Dappe
- §Service de Physique de l'Etat Condensé, DSM/IRAMIS/SPEC, CNRS UMR 3680, CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif sur Yvette cedex, France
| | - Guillaume Schull
- †IPCMS de Strasbourg, UMR 7504 (CNRS - Université de Strasbourg), 67034 Strasbourg, France
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29
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Karan S, Jacob D, Karolak M, Hamann C, Wang Y, Weismann A, Lichtenstein AI, Berndt R. Shifting the Voltage Drop in Electron Transport Through a Single Molecule. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2015; 115:016802. [PMID: 26182113 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.115.016802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A Mn-porphyrin was contacted on Au(111) in a low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope (STM). Differential conductance spectra show a zero-bias resonance that is due to an underscreened Kondo effect according to many-body calculations. When the Mn center is contacted by the STM tip, the spectrum appears to invert along the voltage axis. A drastic change in the electrostatic potential of the molecule involving a small geometric relaxation is found to cause this observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujoy Karan
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | - David Jacob
- Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, 06120 Halle, Germany
| | - Michael Karolak
- Institut für Theoretische Physik und Astrophysik, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Hamann
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | - Yongfeng Wang
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | - Alexander Weismann
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Richard Berndt
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany
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30
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Controlling single-molecule junction conductance by molecular interactions. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11796. [PMID: 26135251 PMCID: PMC4488765 DOI: 10.1038/srep11796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
For the rational design of single-molecular electronic devices, it is essential to understand environmental effects on the electronic properties of a working molecule. Here we investigate the impact of molecular interactions on the single-molecule conductance by accurately positioning individual molecules on the electrode. To achieve reproducible and precise conductivity measurements, we utilize relatively weak π-bonding between a phenoxy molecule and a STM-tip to form and cleave one contact to the molecule. The anchoring to the other electrode is kept stable using a chalcogen atom with strong bonding to a Cu(110) substrate. These non-destructive measurements permit us to investigate the variation in single-molecule conductance under different but controlled environmental conditions. Combined with density functional theory calculations, we clarify the role of the electrostatic field in the environmental effect that influences the molecular level alignment.
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31
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Jacob D. Towards a full ab initio theory of strong electronic correlations in nanoscale devices. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2015; 27:245606. [PMID: 26037313 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/27/24/245606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In this paper I give a detailed account of an ab initio methodology for describing strong electronic correlations in nanoscale devices hosting transition metal atoms with open d- or f-shells. The method combines Kohn-Sham density functional theory for treating the weakly interacting electrons on a static mean-field level with non-perturbative many-body methods for the strongly interacting electrons in the open d- and f-shells. An effective description of the strongly interacting electrons in terms of a multi-orbital Anderson impurity model is obtained by projection onto the strongly correlated subspace properly taking into account the non-orthogonality of the atomic basis set. A special focus lies on the ab initio calculation of the effective screened interaction matrix U for the Anderson model. Solution of the effective Anderson model with the one-crossing approximation or other impurity solver techniques yields the dynamic correlations within the strongly correlated subspace giving rise e.g. to the Kondo effect. As an example the method is applied to the case of a Co adatom on the Cu(0 0 1) surface. The calculated low-bias tunnel spectra show Fano-Kondo lineshapes similar to those measured in experiments. The exact shape of the Fano-Kondo feature as well as its width depend quite strongly on the filling of the Co 3d-shell. Although this somewhat hampers accurate quantitative predictions regarding lineshapes and Kondo temperatures, the overall physical situation can be predicted quite reliably.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Jacob
- Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Weinberg 2, 06120 Halle, Germany
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32
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Moreno-García P, La Rosa A, Kolivoška V, Bermejo D, Hong W, Yoshida K, Baghernejad M, Filippone S, Broekmann P, Wandlowski T, Martín N. Charge Transport in C60-Based Dumbbell-type Molecules: Mechanically Induced Switching between Two Distinct Conductance States. J Am Chem Soc 2015; 137:2318-27. [DOI: 10.1021/ja511271e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Moreno-García
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse
3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrea La Rosa
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Viliam Kolivoška
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse
3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
- J. Heyrovský
Institute of Physical Chemistry, AS CR, v.v.i., Dolejškova
3, 18223, Prague
8, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Bermejo
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Wenjing Hong
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse
3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Koji Yoshida
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse
3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Masoud Baghernejad
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse
3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Salvatore Filippone
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Peter Broekmann
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse
3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Wandlowski
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse
3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nazario Martín
- Departamento
de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, E-28040, Madrid, Spain
- IMDEA-Nanoscience, Campus Universidad Autónoma, 28049-Madrid, Spain
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33
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Leary E, La Rosa A, González MT, Rubio-Bollinger G, Agraït N, Martín N. Incorporating single molecules into electrical circuits. The role of the chemical anchoring group. Chem Soc Rev 2015; 44:920-42. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cs00264d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Constructing electronic circuits containing singly wired molecules is at the frontier of electrical device miniaturisation. Understanding the behaviour of different anchoring groups is key to this goal because of their significant role in determining the properties of the junction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmund Leary
- IMDEA Nanociencia
- C/Faraday 9
- 28049 Madrid
- Spain
- Depto. Física de la Materia Condensada Mod. 3-610 – Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
| | - Andrea La Rosa
- Departamento de Química Orgánica
- Facultad de Ciencias Quıímicas
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid
- Madrid
- Spain
| | | | - Gabino Rubio-Bollinger
- Depto. Física de la Materia Condensada Mod. 3-610 – Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
- 28049 Madrid
- Spain
| | - Nicolás Agraït
- IMDEA Nanociencia
- C/Faraday 9
- 28049 Madrid
- Spain
- Depto. Física de la Materia Condensada Mod. 3-610 – Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
| | - Nazario Martín
- IMDEA Nanociencia
- C/Faraday 9
- 28049 Madrid
- Spain
- Departamento de Química Orgánica
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34
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Schwarz F, Lörtscher E. Break-junctions for investigating transport at the molecular scale. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2014; 26:474201. [PMID: 25352355 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/26/47/474201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Break-junctions (BJs) enable a pair of atomic-sized electrodes to be created and the relative position between them to be controlled with sub-nanometer accuracy by mechanical means-a level of microscopic control that is not yet achievable by top-down fabrication. Locally, a BJ consists of a single-atom contact, an arrangement that is ideal not only to study various types of quantum point contacts, but also to investigate transport through an individual molecule that can bridge such a junction. In this topical review, we will provide a broad overview on the field of single-molecule electronics, in which BJs serve as the main tool of investigation. To correlate the molecular structure and transport properties to gain a fundamental understanding of the underlying transport mechanisms at the molecular scale, basic experiments that systematically cover all aspects of transport by rational chemical design and tailored experiments are needed. The variety of fascinating transport mechanisms and intrinsic molecular functionalities discovered in the past range from nonlinear transport over conductance switching to quantum interference effects observable even at room temperature. Beside discussing these results, we also look at novel directions and the most recent advances in molecular electronics investigating simultaneously electronic transport and also the mechanical and thermal properties of single-molecule junctions as well as the interaction between molecules and light. Finally, we will describe the requirements for a stepwise transition from fundamental BJ experiments towards technology-relevant architectures for future nanoelectronics applications based on ultimately-scaled molecular building blocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Schwarz
- IBM Research-Zurich, Department of Science and Technology, Säumerstrasse 4, CH-8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
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35
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Stirling J, Lekkas I, Sweetman A, Djuranovic P, Guo Q, Pauw B, Granwehr J, Lévy R, Moriarty P. Critical assessment of the evidence for striped nanoparticles. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108482. [PMID: 25402426 PMCID: PMC4234314 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is now a significant body of literature which reports that stripes form in the ligand shell of suitably functionalised Au nanoparticles. This stripe morphology has been proposed to strongly affect the physicochemical and biochemical properties of the particles. We critique the published evidence for striped nanoparticles in detail, with a particular focus on the interpretation of scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) data (as this is the only technique which ostensibly provides direct evidence for the presence of stripes). Through a combination of an exhaustive re-analysis of the original data, in addition to new experimental measurements of a simple control sample comprising entirely unfunctionalised particles, we show that all of the STM evidence for striped nanoparticles published to date can instead be explained by a combination of well-known instrumental artefacts, or by issues with data acquisition/analysis protocols. We also critically re-examine the evidence for the presence of ligand stripes which has been claimed to have been found from transmission electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, small angle neutron scattering experiments, and computer simulations. Although these data can indeed be interpreted in terms of stripe formation, we show that the reported results can alternatively be explained as arising from a combination of instrumental artefacts and inadequate data analysis techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Stirling
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Ioannis Lekkas
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Sweetman
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Predrag Djuranovic
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Quanmin Guo
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Brian Pauw
- International Center for Young Scientists (ICYS), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Josef Granwehr
- Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Raphaël Lévy
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Moriarty
- School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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36
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Nirmalraj P, Thompson D, Molina-Ontoria A, Sousa M, Martín N, Gotsmann B, Riel H. Nanoelectrical analysis of single molecules and atomic-scale materials at the solid/liquid interface. NATURE MATERIALS 2014; 13:947-953. [PMID: 25129620 DOI: 10.1038/nmat4060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Evaluating the built-in functionality of nanomaterials under practical conditions is central for their proposed integration as active components in next-generation electronics. Low-dimensional materials from single atoms to molecules have been consistently resolved and manipulated under ultrahigh vacuum at low temperatures. At room temperature, atomic-scale imaging has also been performed by probing materials at the solid/liquid interface. We exploit this electrical interface to develop a robust electronic decoupling platform that provides precise information on molecular energy levels recorded using in situ scanning tunnelling microscopy/spectroscopy with high spatial and energy resolution in a high-density liquid environment. Our experimental findings, supported by ab initio electronic structure calculations and atomic-scale molecular dynamics simulations, reveal direct mapping of single-molecule structure and resonance states at the solid/liquid interface. We further extend this approach to resolve the electronic structure of graphene monolayers at atomic length scales under standard room-temperature operating conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Nirmalraj
- IBM Research-Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
| | - Damien Thompson
- 1] Department of Physics and Energy, University of Limerick, Ireland [2] Materials and Surface Science Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland
| | - Agustín Molina-Ontoria
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA-Nanociencia), Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marilyne Sousa
- IBM Research-Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
| | - Nazario Martín
- Instituto Madrileño de Estudios Avanzados en Nanociencia (IMDEA-Nanociencia), Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Bernd Gotsmann
- IBM Research-Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
| | - Heike Riel
- IBM Research-Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4 8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
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37
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Pinardi AL, Biddau G, van De Ruit K, Otero-Irurueta G, Gardonio S, Lizzit S, Schennach R, Flipse CFJ, López MF, Méndez J, Pérez R, Martín-Gago JA. Vacancy formation on C60/Pt (111): unraveling the complex atomistic mechanism. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2014; 25:385602. [PMID: 25180864 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/25/38/385602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The interaction of fullerenes with transition metal surfaces leads to the development of an atomic network of ordered vacancies on the metal. However, the structure and formation mechanism of this intricate surface reconstruction is not yet understood at an atomic level. We combine scanning tunneling microscopy, high resolution and temperature programmed-x-ray photoelectrons spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations to show that the vacancy formation in C60/Pt(111) is a complex process in which fullerenes undergo two significant structural rearrangements upon thermal annealing. At first, the molecules are physisorbed on the surface; next, they chemisorb inducing the formation of an adatom-vacancy pair on the side of the fullerene. Finally, this metastable state relaxes when the adatom migrates away and the vacancy moves under the molecule. The evolution from a weakly-bound fullerene to a chemisorbed state with a vacancy underneath could be triggered by residual H atoms on the surface which prevent a strong surface-adsorbate bonding right after deposition. Upon annealing at about 440 K, when all H has desorbed, the C60 interacts with the Pt surface atoms forming the vacancy-adatom pair. This metastable state induces a small charge transfer and precedes the final adsorption structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Pinardi
- ESISNA Group Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (CSIC), c/ Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
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38
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Géranton G, Seiler C, Bagrets A, Venkataraman L, Evers F. Transport properties of individual C60-molecules. J Chem Phys 2014; 139:234701. [PMID: 24359380 DOI: 10.1063/1.4840535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrical and thermal transport properties of C60 molecules are investigated with density-functional-theory based calculations. These calculations suggest that the optimum contact geometry for an electrode terminated with a single-Au atom is through binding to one or two C-atoms of C60 with a tendency to promote the sp(2)-hybridization into an sp(3)-type one. Transport in these junctions is primarily through an unoccupied molecular orbital that is partly hybridized with the Au, which results in splitting the degeneracy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital triplet. The transmission through these junctions, however, cannot be modeled by a single Lorentzian resonance, as our results show evidence of quantum interference between an occupied and an unoccupied orbital. The interference results in a suppression of conductance around the Fermi energy. Our numerical findings are readily analyzed analytically within a simple two-level model.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Géranton
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Campus North, D-76128 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - C Seiler
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Campus North, D-76128 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - A Bagrets
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Campus North, D-76128 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - L Venkataraman
- Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
| | - F Evers
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Campus North, D-76128 Karlsruhe, Germany
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39
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Frederiksen T, Foti G, Scheurer F, Speisser V, Schull G. Chemical control of electrical contact to sp² carbon atoms. Nat Commun 2014; 5:3659. [PMID: 24736561 PMCID: PMC3997807 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon-based nanostructures are attracting tremendous interest as components in ultrafast electronics and optoelectronics. The electrical interfaces to these structures play a crucial role for the electron transport, but the lack of control at the atomic scale can hamper device functionality and integration into operating circuitry. Here we study a prototype carbon-based molecular junction consisting of a single C60 molecule and probe how the electric current through the junction depends on the chemical nature of the foremost electrode atom in contact with the molecule. We find that the efficiency of charge injection to a C60 molecule varies substantially for the considered metallic species, and demonstrate that the relative strength of the metal-C bond can be extracted from our transport measurements. Our study further suggests that a single-C60 junction is a basic model to explore the properties of electrical contacts to meso- and macroscopic sp2 carbon structures. Understanding metal-molecule contacts is crucial for molecular electronic devices. Here, the authors use a C60-terminated scanning tunnelling tip to probe how the chemical nature of the contacting atom on the substrate electrode determines the transport properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Frederiksen
- 1] Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, E-20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain [2] IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, E-48011 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Foti
- 1] Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, E-20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain [2] Centro de Física de Materiales, Centro Mixto CSIC-UPV, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, E-20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Fabrice Scheurer
- Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg, UMR 7504 (CNRS-Université de Strasbourg), Strasbourg 67034, France
| | - Virginie Speisser
- Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg, UMR 7504 (CNRS-Université de Strasbourg), Strasbourg 67034, France
| | - Guillaume Schull
- Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg, UMR 7504 (CNRS-Université de Strasbourg), Strasbourg 67034, France
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40
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Gillemot K, Evangeli C, Leary E, La Rosa A, González MT, Filippone S, Grace I, Rubio-Bollinger G, Ferrer J, Martín N, Lambert CJ, Agraït N. A detailed experimental and theoretical study into the properties of C60 dumbbell junctions. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2013; 9:3812-3822. [PMID: 23630169 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201300310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2013] [Revised: 03/04/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A combined experimental and theoretical investigation is carried out into the electrical transport across a fullerene dumbbell one-molecule junction. The newly designed molecule comprises two C60 s connected to a fluorene backbone via cyclopropyl groups. It is wired between gold electrodes under ambient conditions by pressing the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) onto one of the C60 groups. The STM allows us to identify a single molecule before the junction is formed through imaging, which means unambiguously that only one molecule is wired. Once lifted, the same molecule could be wired many times as it was strongly fixed to the tip, and a high conductance state close to 10(-2) G0 is found. The results also suggest that the relative conductance fluctuations are low as a result of the low mobility of the molecule. Theoretical analysis indicates that the molecule is connected directly to one electrode through the central fluorene, and that to bind it to the gold fully it has to be pushed through a layer of adsorbates naturally present in the experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katalin Gillemot
- Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YB, UK
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41
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Zhao P, Liu DS, Chen G. Energy alignment induced large rectifying behavior in endoheral fullerene dimers. J Chem Phys 2013; 139:084318. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4818746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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42
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Bagrets A. Spin-Polarized Electron Transport Across Metal–Organic Molecules: A Density Functional Theory Approach. J Chem Theory Comput 2013; 9:2801-15. [DOI: 10.1021/ct4000263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexei Bagrets
- Institute
of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of
Technology, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany, and Steinbuch
Centre for Computing, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen,
Germany
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43
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Evangeli C, Gillemot K, Leary E, González MT, Rubio-Bollinger G, Lambert CJ, Agraït N. Engineering the thermopower of C60 molecular junctions. NANO LETTERS 2013; 13:2141-5. [PMID: 23544957 DOI: 10.1021/nl400579g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
We report the measurement of conductance and thermopower of C60 molecular junctions using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). In contrast to previous measurements, we use the imaging capability of the STM to determine precisely the number of molecules in the junction and measure thermopower and conductance continuously and simultaneously during formation and breaking of the molecular junction, achieving a complete characterization at the single-molecule level. We find that the thermopower of C60 dimers formed by trapping a C60 on the tip and contacting an isolated C60 almost doubles with respect to that of a single C60 and is among the highest values measured to date for organic materials. Density functional theory calculations show that the thermopower and the figure of merit continue increasing with the number of C60 molecules, demonstrating the enhancement of thermoelectric preformance by manipulation of intermolecular interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charalambos Evangeli
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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44
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Reecht G, Bulou H, Scheurer F, Speisser V, Carrière B, Mathevet F, Schull G. Oligothiophene nanorings as electron resonators for whispering gallery modes. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2013; 110:056802. [PMID: 23414040 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.110.056802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Structural and electronic properties of oligothiophene nanowires and rings synthesized on a Au(111) surface are investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. The spectroscopic data of the linear and cyclic oligomers show remarkable differences which, to a first approximation, can be accounted by considering electronic state confinement to one-dimensional boxes having, respectively, fixed and periodic boundary conditions. A more detailed analysis shows that polythiophene must be treated as a ribbon (i.e., having an effective width) rather than a purely 1D structure. A fascinating consequence is that the molecular nanorings act as whispering gallery mode resonators for electrons, opening the way for new applications in quantum electronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Reecht
- IPCMS de Strasbourg, UMR 7504 (CNRS-Université de Strasbourg), 67034 Strasbourg, France
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45
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Lörtscher E, Geskin V, Gotsmann B, Fock J, Sørensen JK, Bjørnholm T, Cornil J, van der Zant HSJ, Riel H. Bonding and electronic transport properties of fullerene and fullerene derivatives in break-junction geometries. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2013; 9:209-214. [PMID: 23008229 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201201688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Fullerenes are considered anchoring groups for molecular electronics due to a large contact area and their affinity for noble metals. The conductances of fullerene-terminated molecules, however, are found to be even lower than for thiol termination. The effects of weak molecule-metal coupling and symmetry breaking are studied by transport measurements of C(60) and functionalized C(60). The results demonstrate highy efficient contacts between Au and C(60), despite of deposition from solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuel Lörtscher
- IBM Research-Zurich, Säumerstrasse 4, CH-8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland.
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Schneider NL, Lü JT, Brandbyge M, Berndt R. Light emission probing quantum shot noise and charge fluctuations at a biased molecular junction. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2012; 109:186601. [PMID: 23215305 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.109.186601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The emission of plasmonic light from a single C(60) molecule on Cu(111) is probed in a scanning tunneling microscope from the weak-coupling, tunneling range to strong coupling of the molecule to the electrodes at contact. At positive sample voltage the photon yield decreases owing to shot-noise suppression in an increasingly transparent quantum contact. At reversed bias an unexpected nonlinear increase occurs. First-principles transport calculations reveal that ultrafast charge fluctuations on the molecule give rise to additional noise at optical frequencies beyond the shot noise of the current that is injected to the tip.
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Affiliation(s)
- N L Schneider
- Institut für Experimentelle und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, D-24098 Kiel, Germany
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Koleini M, Brandbyge M. Strong spin-filtering and spin-valve effects in a molecular V-C(60)-V contact. BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2012; 3:589-96. [PMID: 23019556 PMCID: PMC3458606 DOI: 10.3762/bjnano.3.69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2012] [Accepted: 07/20/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Motivated by the recent achievements in the manipulation of C(60) molecules in STM experiments, we study theoretically the structure and electronic properties of a C(60) molecule in an STM tunneljunction with a magnetic tip and magnetic adatom on a Cu(111) surface using first-principles calculations. For the case of a vanadium tip/adatom, we demonstrate how spin coupling between the magnetic V atoms, mediated by the C(60), can be observed in the electronic transport, which display a strong spin-filtering effect, allowing mainly majority-spin electrons to pass (>95%). Moreover, we find a significant change in the conductance between parallel and anti-parallel spin polarizations in the junction (86%) which suggests that STM experiments should be able to characterize the magnetism and spin coupling for these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Koleini
- Hybrid Materials Interfaces Group, Faculty of Production Engineering and Bremen Center for Computational Materials Science, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Mads Brandbyge
- DTU Nanotech, Department of Micro and Nanotechnology, Technical University of Denmark, Ørsteds Plads, Building 345E, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Gopakumar TG, Tang H, Morillo J, Berndt R. Transfer of Cl Ligands between Adsorbed Iron Tetraphenylporphyrin Molecules. J Am Chem Soc 2012; 134:11844-7. [DOI: 10.1021/ja302589z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thiruvancheril G. Gopakumar
- Institut für Experimentelle
und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | - Hao Tang
- CEMES/CNRS, 29, rue Jeanne
Marvig, B.P. 94347, 31055 Toulouse Cedex, France
- Universite de Toulouse, UPS, 31055 Toulouse, France
| | - Joseph Morillo
- CEMES/CNRS, 29, rue Jeanne
Marvig, B.P. 94347, 31055 Toulouse Cedex, France
- Universite de Toulouse, UPS, 31055 Toulouse, France
| | - Richard Berndt
- Institut für Experimentelle
und Angewandte Physik, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany
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Pawlak R, Kawai S, Fremy S, Glatzel T, Meyer E. High-resolution imaging of C60 molecules using tuning-fork-based non-contact atomic force microscopy. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2012; 24:084005. [PMID: 22310075 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/24/8/084005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in non-contact atomic force microscopy (nc-AFM) have led to the possibility of achieving unprecedented resolution within molecular structures, accomplished by probing short-range repulsive interaction forces. Here we investigate C(60) molecules adsorbed on KBr(111) and Cu(111) by tuning-fork-based nc-AFM. First, measurements of C(60) deposited on KBr(001) were conducted in cryogenic conditions revealing highly resolved nc-AFM images of the self-assembly. Using constant-frequency shift mode as well as three-dimensional spectroscopic measurements, we observe that the relatively weak molecule-substrate interaction generally leads to the disruption of molecular assembled structures when the tip is probing the short-range force regime. This particular issue hindered us in resolving the chemical structure of this molecule on the KBr surface. To obtain a better anchoring of C(60) molecules, nc-AFM measurements were performed on Cu(111). Sub-molecular resolutions within the molecules was achieved which allowed a direct and unambiguous visualization of their orientations on the supporting substrate. Furthermore, three-dimensional spectroscopic measurements of simultaneous force and current have been performed above the single molecules giving information of the C(60) molecular orientation as well as its local conductivity. We further discuss the different imaging modes in nc-AFM such as constant-frequency shift nc-AFM, constant-height nc-AFM and constant-current nc-AFM as well as three-dimensional spectroscopic measurement (3D-DFS) employed to achieve such resolution at the sub-molecular scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Pawlak
- Department of Physics, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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Yang H, Boudrioua O, Mayne AJ, Comtet G, Dujardin G, Kuk Y, Sonnet P, Stauffer L, Nagarajan S, Gourdon A. The paradox of an insulating contact between a chemisorbed molecule and a wide band gap semiconductor surface. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2012; 14:1700-5. [DOI: 10.1039/c2cp23104b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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