Electron transport through single metal-molecule-metal junctions is exquisitely sensitive to the atomic scale geometry of the junction. Understanding and controlling the interplay between geometry and conductance is key to engineering robust devices with non-trivial electronic properties. Here we exploit this sensitivity of electron transport to atomic details to create an Angstrom-scale distance ruler to measure average nanogap widths between two electrodes using alkane-diamine conductance signatures on gold and silver. With support from Density Function Theory calculations, we show that this alkane-based distance ruler can be used to establish the binding geometries of more complex molecules which may have multiple conducting configurations. Using such techniques, we identify and characterize the binding of a new conducting linker that allows for pH-controlled formation of robust metal-molecule-metal junctions at room temperature with well-defined conductance signatures.

Conductance rulers to correlate transport and geometry of single molecule-metal junctions

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.