We investigate possible causes of molecular rectification in electrode−molecule− electrode junctions. By using a simple model and simulated conductance histograms, we show that a molecular bias drop is responsible for rectification; conversely, asymmetric molecule−electrode couplings do not directly result in rectification. Instead, the degree of coupling (a)symmetry can be observed in the line shapes of the conductance histograms used to experimentally assess the current−voltage properties of such molecular junctions. More coupling asymmetry leads to less positively skewed histogram peaks.

Recent computational and theoretical studies have shown that the deformation of colloidal suspensions under a steady shear is highly heterogeneous at the particle level and demonstrate a critical influence on the macroscopic deformation behavior. Despite its relevance to a wide variety of industrial applications of colloidal suspensions, scattering studies focusing on addressing the heterogeneity of the non-equilibrium colloidal structure are scarce thus far. Here, we report the first experimental result using small-angle neutron scattering. From the evolution of strain heterogeneity, we conclude that the shear-induced deformation transforms from nearly affine behavior at low shear rates, to plastic rearrangements when the shear rate is high.