Break junctions

Break junctions

Picometer Detection by Adaptive Holographic Interferometry

Published in Klaus D. Sattler, Fundamentals of PICOSCIENCE, 2013

As described in Sections 33.2.2 and 33.2.3, break junction techniques have been extensively used to fabricate junctions with a third (gate) electrode included, to enable gate-induced modulation of molecular conductance. Although some remarkable and interesting physics has emerged from such studies, it is

Single molecule switch devices: A minireview

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Journal Information

Published in Instrumentation Science & Technology, 2020

Yuanjing Li, Ke Xu, Xueyang Sun

In the process of using the break-junction technique, the adsorbed molecule can connect the tip to the surface electrode through a connector at both ends of the molecule. Common break-junction techniques include scanning tunneling microscope break-junction (STM-BJ) and mechanically controllable break-junction (MCBJ).[15–17] STM-BJ technology forms a single-molecule circuit between two electrodes by “tapping” or current stretching. Under certain external circumstances, the STM tip may be brought into and out of contact with the substrate. During the contact process, molecules may connect the tip and surface electrodes. When the STM tip is pulled away from the surface, a plateau appears in the trajectory of current and distance.[18] The MCBJ approach provides a continuously adjustable gap size between two tip-shaped electrodes with impressive mechanical stability for characterizing individual molecules.[19]

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Picometer Detection by Adaptive Holographic Interferometry

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