Stretching-Induced Conductance Increase in a Spin-Crossover Molecule

We investigate transport through mechanically triggered single-molecule switches that are based on the coordination sphere-dependent spin state of FeII-species. In these molecules, in certain junction configurations the relative arrangement of two terpyridine ligands within homoleptic FeII-complexes...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nano letters 2016-08, Vol.16 (8), p.4733-4737
Main Authors: Frisenda, Riccardo, Harzmann, Gero D, Celis Gil, Jose A, Thijssen, Joseph M, Mayor, Marcel, van der Zant, Herre S. J
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:We investigate transport through mechanically triggered single-molecule switches that are based on the coordination sphere-dependent spin state of FeII-species. In these molecules, in certain junction configurations the relative arrangement of two terpyridine ligands within homoleptic FeII-complexes can be mechanically controlled. Mechanical pulling may thus distort the FeII coordination sphere and eventually modify their spin state. Using the movable nanoelectrodes in a mechanically controlled break-junction at low temperature, current–voltage measurements at cryogenic temperatures support the hypothesized switching mechanism based on the spin-crossover behavior. A large fraction of molecular junctions formed with the spin-crossover-active FeII-complex displays a conductance increase for increasing electrode separation and this increase can reach 1–2 orders of magnitude. Theoretical calculations predict a stretching-induced spin transition in the FeII-complex and a larger transmission for the high-spin configuration.
ISSN:1530-6984
1530-6992
DOI:10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b04899