A single-molecule diode

Elbing M, Ochs R, Koentopp M, Fischer M, von Hänisch C, Weigend F, Evers F, Weber HB, Mayor M (2005)

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Letter

Publication year: 2005

Journal

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America National Academy of Sciences

Publisher: National Academy of Sciences

Book Volume: 102

Pages Range: 8815-8820

Journal Issue: 25

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0408888102

Abstract

We have designed and synthesized a molecular rod that consists of two weakly coupled electronic pi-systems with mutually shifted energy levels. The asymmetry thus implied manifests itself in a current-voltage characteristic with pronounced dependence on the sign of the bias voltage, which makes the molecule a prototype for a molecular diode. The individual molecules were immobilized by sulfur-gold bonds between both electrodes of a mechanically controlled break junction, and their electronic transport properties have been investigated. The results indeed show diode-like current-voltage characteristics. In contrast to that, control experiments with symmetric molecular rods consisting of two identical pi-systems did not show significant asymmetries in the transport properties. To investigate the underlying transport mechanism, phenomenological arguments are combined with calculations based on density functional theory. The theoretical analysis suggests that the bias dependence of the polarizability of the molecule feeds back into the current leading to an asymmetric shape of the current-voltage characteristics, similar to the phenomena in a semiconductor diode.

Authors with CRIS profile

Heiko Weber Chair of Applied Physics

Involved external institutions

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) DE Germany (DE) Universität Basel CH Switzerland (CH)

How to cite

APA:

Elbing, M., Ochs, R., Koentopp, M., Fischer, M., von Hänisch, C., Weigend, F.,... Mayor, M. (2005). A single-molecule diode. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 102(25), 8815-8820. https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0408888102

MLA:

Elbing, Mark, et al. "A single-molecule diode." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 102.25 (2005): 8815-8820.

BibTeX: Download