Issue 37, 2022

Beyond electrical conductance: progress and prospects in single-molecule junctions

Abstract

The idea of using individual molecules as conducting wires, regulators, and interconnects for charges in electronic circuitry has catalyzed the vibrant development of the field of single-molecule electronics. The ability to reliably and repeatedly construct single-molecule junctions (SMJs) has enabled the study of charge transport through a broad spectrum of individual molecules. Over the past decade, the capability of the SMJ platform has been greatly expanded thanks to the development of new experimental techniques and the integration of knowledge and methodologies from other disciplines. New opportunities beyond electrical conductance have emerged at the atomic and molecular scale. It has been demonstrated in many recent studies that the SMJ can now serve as a powerful and versatile tool to address critical physical and chemical questions that are otherwise inaccessible. This perspective focuses on the new capabilities and functionalities of the SMJ beyond conductance measurements and how they have enabled the investigation of crucial single-molecule processes and advanced our understanding beyond molecular electronics.

Graphical abstract: Beyond electrical conductance: progress and prospects in single-molecule junctions

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
22 Mär 2022
Accepted
01 Jun 2022
First published
06 Jun 2022

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2022,10, 13717-13733

Author version available

Beyond electrical conductance: progress and prospects in single-molecule junctions

C. Tang, R. T. Ayinla and K. Wang, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2022, 10, 13717 DOI: 10.1039/D2TC01155G

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