The quantum interference effect in the charge transport through single-phenyl molecules received intensive interests from theory but remained as an experimental challenge. In this paper, we investigated the charge tra...The quantum interference effect in the charge transport through single-phenyl molecules received intensive interests from theory but remained as an experimental challenge. In this paper, we investigated the charge transport through single-molecule benzene dithiol (BDT) junction with different connectivities using mechanically controllable break.junction (MCB]) technique. By further improving the mechanical stability and the electronic measuring component of the MCBJ set-up, we obtained the conductance histograms of BDT molecules (BDTs) from the statistical analysis of conductance-distance traces without data selection. By tuning the connectivity, the conductance of BDTs is determined to be 10-12Go, 10-22Go and 10-10Go for pcra, meta, and ortho connectivity, following the trend that ortfio-BDT 〉 para-BDT 〉 meta-BDT. Furthermore, the displacements of the junctions followed the trend that para 〉 meta 〉 ortho, suggesting the charge transport through the molecules via the gold-thiol bond. The different trends between conductance and displacement for different connectivities suggests the presence of destructive quantum interference effect on meta-BDT, which provides the experimental evidence for the quantum interference effect through single-phenyl molecular junctions.展开更多
We report an electrochemically assisted mechanically controllable break junction (EC-MCBJ) approach to investigating single molecule conductance. Electrode pairs connected with a gold nanobridge were fabricated by e...We report an electrochemically assisted mechanically controllable break junction (EC-MCBJ) approach to investigating single molecule conductance. Electrode pairs connected with a gold nanobridge were fabricated by electrochemical deposition and then mounted on a homebuilt MCBJ platform. A large number of Au- molecule-Au junctions were produced sequentially by repeated breaking and reconnecting of the gold nanobridge. In order to measure their single molecule conductance, statistical conductance histograms were generated for benzene-l,4-dithiol (BDT) and 4,4'-bipyridine (BPY). The values extracted from these histograms were found to be in the same range as values previously reported in the literature. Our method is distinct from the ones used to acquire these previously reported literature values, however, in that it is faster, simpler, more cost-effective, and changing the electrode material is more convenient.展开更多
基金supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(No. SQ2017YFJC020081)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos. 21673195,21503179)+2 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in China (Xiamen University: No. 20720170035)Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(No. 2016J05162)the Young Thousand Talent Project of China
文摘The quantum interference effect in the charge transport through single-phenyl molecules received intensive interests from theory but remained as an experimental challenge. In this paper, we investigated the charge transport through single-molecule benzene dithiol (BDT) junction with different connectivities using mechanically controllable break.junction (MCB]) technique. By further improving the mechanical stability and the electronic measuring component of the MCBJ set-up, we obtained the conductance histograms of BDT molecules (BDTs) from the statistical analysis of conductance-distance traces without data selection. By tuning the connectivity, the conductance of BDTs is determined to be 10-12Go, 10-22Go and 10-10Go for pcra, meta, and ortho connectivity, following the trend that ortfio-BDT 〉 para-BDT 〉 meta-BDT. Furthermore, the displacements of the junctions followed the trend that para 〉 meta 〉 ortho, suggesting the charge transport through the molecules via the gold-thiol bond. The different trends between conductance and displacement for different connectivities suggests the presence of destructive quantum interference effect on meta-BDT, which provides the experimental evidence for the quantum interference effect through single-phenyl molecular junctions.
文摘We report an electrochemically assisted mechanically controllable break junction (EC-MCBJ) approach to investigating single molecule conductance. Electrode pairs connected with a gold nanobridge were fabricated by electrochemical deposition and then mounted on a homebuilt MCBJ platform. A large number of Au- molecule-Au junctions were produced sequentially by repeated breaking and reconnecting of the gold nanobridge. In order to measure their single molecule conductance, statistical conductance histograms were generated for benzene-l,4-dithiol (BDT) and 4,4'-bipyridine (BPY). The values extracted from these histograms were found to be in the same range as values previously reported in the literature. Our method is distinct from the ones used to acquire these previously reported literature values, however, in that it is faster, simpler, more cost-effective, and changing the electrode material is more convenient.