Research Update: Molecular electronics: The single-molecule switch and transistor

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2014 · APL Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4855775· OSTI ID:22269538

Sotthewes, Kai; Heimbuch, René; Kumar, Avijit; Zandvliet, Harold J. W. ^[1]; Geskin, Victor ^[2]

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1. Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials, MESA Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500AE Enschede (Netherlands)
2. Service de Chimie des Materiaux Nouveaux, University of Mons, Mons (Belgium)

In order to design and realize single-molecule devices it is essential to have a good understanding of the properties of an individual molecule. For electronic applications, the most important property of a molecule is its conductance. Here we show how a single octanethiol molecule can be connected to macroscopic leads and how the transport properties of the molecule can be measured. Based on this knowledge we have realized two single-molecule devices: a molecular switch and a molecular transistor. The switch can be opened and closed at will by carefully adjusting the separation between the electrical contacts and the voltage drop across the contacts. This single-molecular switch operates in a broad temperature range from cryogenic temperatures all the way up to room temperature. Via mechanical gating, i.e., compressing or stretching of the octanethiol molecule, by varying the contact's interspace, we are able to systematically adjust the conductance of the electrode-octanethiol-electrode junction. This two-terminal single-molecule transistor is very robust, but the amplification factor is rather limited.

• OSTI ID: 22269538
• Journal Information: APL Materials, Journal Name: APL Materials Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 2; ISSN AMPADS; ISSN 2166-532X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AMPLIFICATION
CONNECTORS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRODES
SWITCHES
TRANSISTORS
VOLTAGE DROP