Brooke, Richard J, Szumski, Doug S, Vezzoli, Andrea ORCID: 0000-0002-8059-0113, Higgins, Simon J ORCID: 0000-0003-3518-9061, Nichols, Richard J ORCID: 0000-0002-1446-8275 and Schwarzacher, Walther
(2018)
Dual Control of Molecular Conductance through pH and Potential in Single-Molecule Devices.
NANO LETTERS, 18 (2).
pp. 1317-1322.
Text
Schwarzacher Brookes Dual_Control_of_Chemical_Equilibrium_in_Single_Molecule_Devices_final.pdf - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (683kB) |
Abstract
One of the principal aims of single-molecule electronics is to create practical devices out of individual molecules. Such devices are expected to play a particularly important role as novel sensors thanks to their response to wide ranging external stimuli. Here we show that the conductance of a molecular junction can depend on two independent stimuli simultaneously. Using a scanning tunnelling microscope break-junction technique (STM-BJ), we found that the conductance of 4,4'-vinylenedipyridine (44VDP) molecular junctions with Ni contacts depends on both the electrochemically applied gate voltage and the pH of the environment. Hence, not only can the Ni|44VDP|Ni junction function as a pH-sensitive switch, but the value of the pH at which switching takes place can be tuned electrically. Furthermore, through the simultaneous control of pH and potential the STM-BJ technique delivers unique insight into the acid-base reaction, including the observation of discrete proton transfers to and from a single molecule.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | Break-junction, molecular electronics, electron transfer, sensors, protonation, fluctuations |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
Date Deposited: | 12 Sep 2018 06:56 |
Last Modified: | 19 Jan 2023 01:18 |
DOI: | 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b04995 |
Related URLs: | |
URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3026134 |