Effects of hydration on molecular junction transport

Long, David P. ; Lazorcik, Jason L. ; Mantooth, Brent A. ; Moore, Martin H. ; Ratner, Mark A. ; Troisi, Alessandro ; Yao, Yuxing ; Ciszek, Jacob W. ; Tour, James M. ; Shashidhar, Ranganathan (2006) Effects of hydration on molecular junction transport Nature Materials, 5 . pp. 901-908. ISSN 1476-1122

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Official URL: http://www.nature.com/nmat/journal/v5/n11/full/nma...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nmat1754

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.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Nature Publishing Group.
ID Code:49495
Deposited On:20 Jul 2011 09:54
Last Modified:20 Jul 2011 09:54

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