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https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23528-8
DC Field | Value | |
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dc.title | A single atom change turns insulating saturated wires into molecular conductors | |
dc.contributor.author | Chen, Xiaoping | |
dc.contributor.author | Kretz, Bernhard | |
dc.contributor.author | Adoah, Francis | |
dc.contributor.author | Nickle, Cameron | |
dc.contributor.author | Chi, Xiao | |
dc.contributor.author | Yu, Xiaojiang | |
dc.contributor.author | del Barco, Enrique | |
dc.contributor.author | Thompson, Damien | |
dc.contributor.author | Egger, David A. | |
dc.contributor.author | Nijhuis, Christian A. | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2022-10-11T07:47:42Z | |
dc.date.available | 2022-10-11T07:47:42Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2021-06-08 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Chen, Xiaoping, Kretz, Bernhard, Adoah, Francis, Nickle, Cameron, Chi, Xiao, Yu, Xiaojiang, del Barco, Enrique, Thompson, Damien, Egger, David A., Nijhuis, Christian A. (2021-06-08). A single atom change turns insulating saturated wires into molecular conductors. Nature Communications 12 (1) : 3432. ScholarBank@NUS Repository. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23528-8 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 2041-1723 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/231936 | |
dc.description.abstract | We present an efficient strategy to modulate tunnelling in molecular junctions by changing the tunnelling decay coefficient, β, by terminal-atom substitution which avoids altering the molecular backbone. By varying X = H, F, Cl, Br, I in junctions with S(CH2)(10-18)X, current densities (J) increase >4 orders of magnitude, creating molecular conductors via reduction of β from 0.75 to 0.25 Å−1. Impedance measurements show tripled dielectric constants (εr) with X = I, reduced HOMO-LUMO gaps and tunnelling-barrier heights, and 5-times reduced contact resistance. These effects alone cannot explain the large change in β. Density-functional theory shows highly localized, X-dependent potential drops at the S(CH2)nX//electrode interface that modifies the tunnelling barrier shape. Commonly-used tunnelling models neglect localized potential drops and changes in εr. Here, we demonstrate experimentally that β∝1/εr, suggesting highly-polarizable terminal-atoms act as charge traps and highlighting the need for new charge transport models that account for dielectric effects in molecular tunnelling junctions. © 2021, The Author(s). | |
dc.publisher | Nature Research | |
dc.rights | Attribution 4.0 International | |
dc.rights.uri | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | |
dc.source | Scopus OA2021 | |
dc.type | Article | |
dc.contributor.department | BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES | |
dc.contributor.department | PHYSICS | |
dc.contributor.department | SINGAPORE SYNCHROTRON LIGHT SOURCE | |
dc.contributor.department | CHEMISTRY | |
dc.description.doi | 10.1038/s41467-021-23528-8 | |
dc.description.sourcetitle | Nature Communications | |
dc.description.volume | 12 | |
dc.description.issue | 1 | |
dc.description.page | 3432 | |
Appears in Collections: | Staff Publications Elements |
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