Molecular transport through single molecules between eplitaxially grown contacts

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Holger Butenschön; Professor Dr. Herbert Pfnür
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ; Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis
• Term: from 2006 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 25249675

In collaboration of a group from surface science with a group from organic chemistry, this experimental project combines the generation of nano-size contacts with the synthesis of ferrocene-based organic molecules and realted cobalt systems, the implementation of single molecules into the contact geometry and their physical characterization by electrical transport measurements, tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. Nano-size contacts will be realized using a combination of e-beam lithography, self organization and electromigration, using epitaxial, crystalline and extremely thin metallic structures of Ag and Pb on low-doped Si. This will realize contact geometries that allow the characterization of these contacts on the atomic level and the direct correlation of geometric structures and electronic states of the adsorbed molecules with the electric transport properties of them. Systematic studies of molecular transport properties include the variation of the metallic contact materials, the molecules attached of them, and the molecular groups forming the metal-molecule bond. This contribution consists of introducing Ag and Pb as metallic structures and ferrocene-based molecules as well as sandwich complexes derived from (cyclobutadiene)-cyclopentadienylcobald to be attaches to the metals by a variety of end groups.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1243: Quantum Transport at the Molecular Scale
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Christoph Tegenkamp