Contacting individual molecules using mechanically controllable break junctions

Abstract

Among the experimental techniques employed in contacting individual molecules Mechanically Controllable Break Junctions are being frequently used. Some of the advantages are (1) straight-forward preparation of clean surfaces for anchoring the molecule; (2) the possibility to produce many different single-molecule junctions in one experiment, allowing obtaining statistical averages; (3) adapting the electrode gap to the molecules' length; (4) control over the mechanical stress of the molecule. We briefly review results obtained on organic molecules anchored to gold electrodes by thiol groups, both at room temperature and at cryogenic temperatures, and experiments on simple molecules chemisorbed to platinum electrodes. © Springer 2006.