Atomically defined angstrom-scale all-carbon junctions

Abstract

Full-carbon electronics at the scale of several angstroms is an expeimental challenge, which could be overcome by exploiting the versatility of carbon allotropes. Here, we investigate charge transport through graphene/single-fullerene/graphene hybrid junctions using a single-molecule manipulation technique. Such sub-nanoscale electronic junctions can be tuned by band gap engineering as exemplified by various pristine fullerenes such as C 60 , C 70 , C 76 and C 90 . In addition, we demonstrate further control of charge transport by breaking the conjugation of their π systems which lowers their conductance, and via heteroatom doping of fullerene, which introduces transport resonances and increase their conductance. Supported by our combined density functional theory (DFT) calculations, a promising future of tunable full-carbon electronics based on numerous sub-nanoscale fullerenes in the large family of carbon allotropes is anticipated.

Selective Fabrication of Single‐Molecule Junctions by Interface Engineering

“…[1,2] The control over the interaction between molecule and electrode promises to vast applications in numerous subjects, such as catalysis, [3,4] materials, [5][6][7] sensors, [8][9][10][11] molecular biology, [12][13][14][15] and bottom-up devices. [16,17] In recent years, the single-molecule conductance measurement technique has witnessed significant progress in surface science, that an…”

“…[ 1,2 ] The control over the interaction between molecule and electrode promises to vast applications in numerous subjects, such as catalysis, [ 3,4 ] materials, [ 5–7 ] sensors, [ 8–11 ] molecular biology, [ 12–15 ] and bottom‐up devices. [ 16,17 ] In recent years, the single‐molecule conductance measurement technique has witnessed significant progress in surface science, that an external electric field can accelerate the bond‐forming process between a molecule and an electrode. [ 18,19 ] This behavior then attracted much interest in single‐molecule electronics because it allows the selective fabrication of single‐molecule devices.…”

Fullerene C76: An Unexplored Superior Electrode Material with Wide Operating Potential Window for High‐Performance Supercapacitors

“…On the other hand, unlike carbon nanotubes, fullerenes are defect‐free carbon materials. . Consequently, fullerenes have been used to enhance the performance of Li‐ion batteries and supercapacitor devices.…”

Application of Micro/Nanofabrication Techniques to On‐Chip Molecular Electronics

“…[ 39 ] Furthermore, with the graphene‐based electrodes, all‐carbon molecular devices come into reality, thus expanding the applications of MCBJ technique in molecular electronics. [ 40 ]…”