Nanometric building blocks for robust multifunctional molecular junctions

Much of the motivation for developing molecular electronic devices is the prospect of achieving novel electronic functions by varying molecular structure. We describe a “building block” approach for molecular junctions resulting in one, two or three nanometer-thick molecular layers in a commercially proven junction design. A single layer of anthraquinone between carbon electrodes provides a tunnel device with applications in electronic music, and a second layer of a thiophene derivative yields a molecular rectifier with quite different audio characteristics. A third layer of lithium benzoate produces a redox-active device with possible applications in non-volatile memory devices or on-chip energy storage. The building block approach forms a basis for “rational design” of electronic functions, in which layers of varying structure produce distinct and desirable electronic behaviours.