Single Molecule Electronics and Devices

Abstract

The manufacture of integrated circuits with single-molecule building blocks is a goal of molecular electronics. While research in the past has been limited to bulk experiments on self-assembled monolayers, advances in technology have now enabled us to fabricate single-molecule junctions. This has led to significant progress in understanding electron transport in molecular systems at the single-molecule level and the concomitant emergence of new device concepts. Here, we review recent developments in this field. We summarize the methods currently used to form metal-molecule-metal structures and some single-molecule techniques essential for characterizing molecular junctions such as inelastic electron tunnelling spectroscopy. We then highlight several important achievements, including demonstration of single-molecule diodes, transistors, and switches that make use of electrical, photo, and mechanical stimulation to control the electron transport. We also discuss intriguing issues to be addressed further in the future such as heat and thermoelectric transport in an individual molecule.

Charge Transport and Electrical Properties of Spin Crossover Materials: Towards Nanoelectronic and Spintronic Devices

“…In this context, the field of molecular electronics might bring some solutions with the use of molecular switches [4,5], single molecular magnets [6,7] or molecular logic gates [8][9][10]. Molecular switches can be switched between two different states (ON/OFF) characterized in some cases by different molecular structures (structural isomerization), electronic configurations or oxidation states (redox switches) [4].…”

Thermoelectric Properties of Composite Nanoparticle Array with Protoporphyrin Molecule Junctions

“…[4][5][6][10][11][12] In our experiment, electrodes are AuNPs, and metal-protoporphyrin molecules are modified on AuNP surfaces. When thermoelectric voltage is created, the current of molecule junction could be described with Landauer function:…”

Single-Molecule Analysis Methods Using Nanogap Electrodes and Their Application to DNA Sequencing Technologies

“…Piezo actuators are typically used in this method, and they break and reconnect the wires through an up-and-down motion (Figure 2). 9 In this method, a polyimide thin film is formed on a phosphor bronze substrate, and thin metal fine patterns are drawn onto the substrate using electron beam lithography. 10 Chrome and gold are then deposited in order to produce the thin metal wires.…”