We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Local cation-tuned reversible single-molecule switch in electric double layer.
- Authors
Tong, Ling; Yu, Zhou; Gao, Yi-Jing; Li, Xiao-Chong; Zheng, Ju-Fang; Shao, Yong; Wang, Ya-Hao; Zhou, Xiao-Shun
- Abstract
The nature of molecule-electrode interface is critical for the integration of atomically precise molecules as functional components into circuits. Herein, we demonstrate that the electric field localized metal cations in outer Helmholtz plane can modulate interfacial Au-carboxyl contacts, realizing a reversible single-molecule switch. STM break junction and I-V measurements show the electrochemical gating of aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids have a conductance ON/OFF behavior in electrolyte solution containing metal cations (i.e., Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+), compared to almost no change in conductance without metal cations. In situ Raman spectra reveal strong molecular carboxyl-metal cation coordination at the negatively charged electrode surface, hindering the formation of molecular junctions for electron tunnelling. This work validates the critical role of localized cations in the electric double layer to regulate electron transport at the single-molecule level. A common approach to design single-molecule switch is to use molecular backbones in response to external stimulus, but often requires complex organic synthesis. Here, Tong et al. show how to in situ control of the molecule-electrode contact using electrochemical gating to realize a reversible switch.
- Subjects
ELECTRIC double layer; HELMHOLTZ, Hermann von, 1821-1894; ELECTRIC switchgear; ELECTRON tunneling; ELECTROLYTE solutions; RAMAN spectroscopy; ELECTRON transport; RAMAN scattering
- Publication
Nature Communications, 2023, Vol 14, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2041-1723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41467-023-39206-w