Force-controlled lifting of molecular wires
Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: Lifting a single molecular wire off the surface with a combined frequency-modulated atomic force and tunneling microscope it is possible to monitor the evolution of both the wire configuration and the contacts simultaneously with the transport conductance experiment. In particular, critical points where individual bonds to the surface are broken and instabilities where the wire is prone to change its contact configuration can be identified in the force gradient and dissipation responses of the junction. This additional mechanical information can be used to unambiguously determine the conductance of a true molecular wire, that is, of a molecule that is contacted via a pointlike ``crocodile clip'' to each of the electrodes but is otherwise free.
Source: Physical Review B
Authors: N. Fournier, C. Wagner, C. Weiss, R. Temirov, F. S. Tautz
Institutions: Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich Aachen Research Alliance
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1966371925