Open AccessStructural Memory Effects in Gold–4,4′-Bipyridine–Gold Single-Molecule Nanowires
Author(s) -
András Magyarkuti,
Zoltán Balogh,
Gréta Mezei,
András Halbritter
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the journal of physical chemistry letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.563
H-Index - 203
ISSN - 1948-7185
DOI - 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c03765
Subject(s) - break junction , nanowire , electrode , molecule , materials science , conductance , zigzag , closing (real estate) , 4,4' bipyridine , nanotechnology , quantum tunnelling , chemistry , condensed matter physics , optoelectronics , physics , geometry , hydrogen bond , organic chemistry , mathematics , political science , law
We study the vulnerability of single-molecule nanowires against a temporary disconnection of the junction. To this end, we compare the room and low-temperature junction formation trajectories along the opening and closing of gold-4,4'-bipyridine-gold single-molecule nanowires. In the low-temperature measurements, the cross-correlations between the opening and subsequent closing conductance traces demonstrate a strong structural memory effect: around half of the molecular opening traces exhibit similar, statistically dependent molecular features as the junction is closed again. This means that the junction stays rigid and the molecule remains protruding from one electrode even after the rupture of the junction, and therefore, the same single-molecule junction can be reestablished if the electrodes are closed again. In the room-temperature measurements, however, weak opening-closing correlations are found, indicating a significant rearrangement of the junction after the rupture and the related loss of structural memory effects.