Nanoelectrical analysis of single molecules and atomic-scale materials at the solid/liquid interface

Evaluating the built-in functionality of nanomaterials under practical conditions is central for their proposed integration as active components in next-generation electronics. Low-dimensional materials from single atoms to molecules have been consistently resolved and manipulated under ultrahigh va...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Nirmalraj, Peter, Thompson, Damien, Molina Ontoria, Agustín, Sousa, Marilyne, Martín, Nazario, Gotsmann, Bernd, Riel, Heike
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/35135
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/35135
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:547
Atoms
Calculations
Electronic structure
Graphene
Interfaces (materials)
Molecular dynamics
Molecules
Scanning tunneling microscopy
Vacuum applications
Química orgánica (Química)
2306 Química Orgánica
Descripción
Sumario:Evaluating the built-in functionality of nanomaterials under practical conditions is central for their proposed integration as active components in next-generation electronics. Low-dimensional materials from single atoms to molecules have been consistently resolved and manipulated under ultrahigh vacuum at low temperatures. At room temperature, atomic-scale imaging has also been performed by probing materials at the solid/liquid interface. We exploit this electrical interface to develop a robust electronic decoupling platform that provides precise information on molecular energy levels recorded using in situ scanning tunnelling microscopy/spectroscopy with high spatial and energy resolution in a high-density liquid environment. Our experimental findings, supported by ab initio electronic structure calculations and atomic-scale molecular dynamics simulations, reveal direct mapping of single-molecule structure and resonance states at the solid/liquid interface.We further extend this approach to resolve the electronic structure of graphene monolayers at atomic length scales under standard room-temperature operating conditions.