Wiring up single molecules

• The possibility of using single molecules as active elements of electronic devices offers a variety of scientific and technological opportunities. In this article, we discuss transistors, where electrons flow through discrete quantum states of a single molecule. First, we will describe molecules, where current flows through one cobalt atom surrounded by two insulating terpyridyl ligands. Depending on the length of the insulating part of the molecules, two different behaviors are observed: Coulomb blockade for a longer molecule and the Kondo effect for a shorter molecule. We will also discuss measurements of the C70 fullerene and its dimer (C140). In C140 devices, the transport measurements are affected by an intercage vibrational mode that has an energy of 11 meV. We observe a large current increase when this mode is excited, indicating a strong coupling between the electronic and mechanical degrees of freedom in C140 molecules.

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NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Annan fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Other Physics Topics (hsv//eng)

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Fysik

Physics

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