Solvents in molecular electronics: their role in the conductance of molecular junctions
ORAL
Abstract
Conductance measurements in metal/molecule/metal junctions are essential for understanding electron transport at the nanoscale. While previous studies have primarily focused on the intrinsic conductive properties of the molecules within the junction, the role of the solvent environment in which the molecule is deposited has been less explored. The choice of solvent can affect not only the mechanical stability of the molecular junctions but also the interaction between the molecule and the electrodes, thereby influencing the conductance results.
Our studies using STM and STM-BJ reveal that commonly used solvents in molecular electronics, such as benzene, cyclohexane, and toluene, remain adhered to the gold surface, significantly impacting the electronic transport properties of the system. This highlights the importance of understanding the solvent's role in these measurements.
In this study, we evaluate the influence of chloroform and dichloromethane as solvents in conductance measurements of molecular junctions, using mechanically controlled break junction (MCBJ) and scanning tunneling microscopy break junction (STM-BJ) methods, to determine their impact on system stability and conductance.
Our studies using STM and STM-BJ reveal that commonly used solvents in molecular electronics, such as benzene, cyclohexane, and toluene, remain adhered to the gold surface, significantly impacting the electronic transport properties of the system. This highlights the importance of understanding the solvent's role in these measurements.
In this study, we evaluate the influence of chloroform and dichloromethane as solvents in conductance measurements of molecular junctions, using mechanically controlled break junction (MCBJ) and scanning tunneling microscopy break junction (STM-BJ) methods, to determine their impact on system stability and conductance.
*This work forms part of the Advanced Materials program and was supported by MCIN with funding from European Union NextGenerationEU (PRTR-C17.I1) and by Generalitat Valenciana (MFA/2022/045). The authors acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Government through PID2022-141712NB-C22 and by the Generalitat Valenciana through PROMETEO/2021/ 017 and CIDEXG/2022/45.
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Publication: Martinez-Garcia, A., de Ara, T., Pastor-Amat, L., Untiedt, C., Lombardi, E. B., Dednam, W., & Sabater, C. (2023). Unraveling the Interplay between Quantum Transport and Geometrical Conformations in Monocyclic Hydrocarbons' Molecular Junctions. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 127(48), 23303-23311.
Presenters
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Patricia Ferrer Alcaraz
- Universidad de Alicante