Effects of hydration on molecular junction transport.

Nat Mater

Research and Development Center, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), 9460 Innovation Drive, Manassas, Virginia 20110, USA.

Published: November 2006

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study focuses on how environmental contaminants influence charge transport in small molecules, aiming to clarify their electronic characteristics by removing interference from these contaminants.
  • The researchers utilized magnetically assembled microsphere junctions with thiol monolayers to analyze how exposure to air affects electron transport, specifically through current-voltage analysis and inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS).
  • The findings indicate that rapid hydration at gold-sulfur contacts significantly impacts molecular conduction, highlighting the need to understand how atmospheric exposure negatively affects electron transport in gold-thiol junctions.

Article Abstract

The study of charge transport through increasingly complex small molecules will benefit from a detailed understanding of how contaminants from the environment affect molecular conduction. This should provide a clearer picture of the electronic characteristics of molecules by eliminating interference from adsorbed species. Here we use magnetically assembled microsphere junctions incorporating thiol monolayers to provide insight into changing electron transport characteristics resulting from exposure to air. Using this technique, current-voltage analysis and inelastic electron tunnelling spectroscopy (IETS) demonstrate that the primary interaction affecting molecular conduction is rapid hydration at the gold-sulphur contacts. We use IETS to present evidence for changing mechanisms of charge transport as a result of this interaction. The detrimental effects on molecular conduction discussed here are important for understanding electron transport through gold-thiol molecular junctions once exposed to atmospheric conditions.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nmat1754DOI Listing

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