Article abstract
Nature Materials 5, 901 - 908 (2006)
Published online: 15 October 2006 | doi:10.1038/nmat1754
Subject Categories: Molecular electronics | Characterisation and analytical techniques
Effects of hydration on molecular junction transport
David P. Long1, Jason L. Lazorcik1, Brent A. Mantooth1, Martin H. Moore2, Mark A. Ratner3, Alessandro Troisi4, Yuxing Yao5, Jacob W. Ciszek5, James M. Tour5 & Ranganathan Shashidhar1
Abstract
The study of charge transport through increasingly complex small molecules will benefit from a detailed understanding of how contaminants from the environment affect molecular conduction. This should provide a clearer picture of the electronic characteristics of molecules by eliminating interference from adsorbed species. Here we use magnetically assembled microsphere junctions incorporating thiol monolayers to provide insight into changing electron transport characteristics resulting from exposure to air. Using this technique, current–voltage analysis and inelastic electron tunnelling spectroscopy (IETS) demonstrate that the primary interaction affecting molecular conduction is rapid hydration at the gold–sulphur contacts. We use IETS to present evidence for changing mechanisms of charge transport as a result of this interaction. The detrimental effects on molecular conduction discussed here are important for understanding electron transport through gold–thiol molecular junctions once exposed to atmospheric conditions.
- Research and Development Center, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), 9460 Innovation Drive, Manassas, Virginia 20110, USA
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science and Engineering (Code 6900), Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia 20375, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Nanofabrication and Molecular Self-Assembly, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Centre of Scientific Computing, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Rd, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Department of Chemistry and Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Rice University, MS 222, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
Correspondence to: David P. Long1 e-mail: longdp@saic.com
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