TY - JOUR

T1 - Strong electronic coupling between single C60 molecules and gold electrodes prepared by quench condensation at 4 K. A single molecule three terminal device study

AU - Danilov, Andrey V.

AU - Kubatkin, Sergey E.

AU - Kafanov, Sergey

AU - Bjørnholm, Thomas

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - We report the first measurements of single C60 molecules trapped in three terminal devices prepared by quench condensation of a gold source and drain electrode on top of an aluminium gate electrode covered with a thin oxide. Our experimental platform allows the source and drain electrodes to be fabricated on the gate oxide at low temperatures and in high vacuum. In a subsequent step, single molecules are evaporated in situ onto the surface and caught in the gap between a source and a drain electrode. This fabrication method ensures a clean contact between the molecule and the gold electrode due to the unbroken vacuum. Our measurements reveal a strong interaction between the C60 molecule and the gold electrodes resulting in the absence of the Coulomb blockade effects observed by others. In addition, we observe an insignificant gate dependence but a pronounced negative differential resistance (NDR) at bias voltages from 20-50 meV. The position of the peak in the NDR shows a pronounced and universal temperature dependence for all six devices included in the study. The results are related to previous measurements in such devices which focus on the detailed nature of the contact region between the molecule and the gold electrode.

AB - We report the first measurements of single C60 molecules trapped in three terminal devices prepared by quench condensation of a gold source and drain electrode on top of an aluminium gate electrode covered with a thin oxide. Our experimental platform allows the source and drain electrodes to be fabricated on the gate oxide at low temperatures and in high vacuum. In a subsequent step, single molecules are evaporated in situ onto the surface and caught in the gap between a source and a drain electrode. This fabrication method ensures a clean contact between the molecule and the gold electrode due to the unbroken vacuum. Our measurements reveal a strong interaction between the C60 molecule and the gold electrodes resulting in the absence of the Coulomb blockade effects observed by others. In addition, we observe an insignificant gate dependence but a pronounced negative differential resistance (NDR) at bias voltages from 20-50 meV. The position of the peak in the NDR shows a pronounced and universal temperature dependence for all six devices included in the study. The results are related to previous measurements in such devices which focus on the detailed nature of the contact region between the molecule and the gold electrode.

U2 - 10.1039/b506679b

DO - 10.1039/b506679b

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:33748622289

VL - 131

SP - 337

EP - 345

JO - Faraday Discussions

JF - Faraday Discussions

SN - 1359-6640

ER -