• 文献标题:   Controlling the Conductance of a Graphene-Molecule Nanojunction by Proton Transfer
  • 文献类型:   Article
  • 作  者:   WECKBECKER D, COTO PB, THOSS M
  • 作者关键词:   molecular junction, graphene, electronic transport, molecular switche, proton transfer
  • 出版物名称:   NANO LETTERS
  • ISSN:   1530-6984 EI 1530-6992
  • 通讯作者地址:   Friedrich Alexander Univ Erlangen Nurnberg
  • 被引频次:   8
  • DOI:   10.1021/acs.nanolett.6b04813
  • 出版年:   2017

▎ 摘  要

The possibility of using single molecule junctions as components of nanoelectronic devices has motivated intensive experimental and theoretical research on the underlying transport mechanism in these systems. In this Letter, we investigate from a theoretical perspective intramolecular proton transfer reactions as a mechanism for controlling the conductance state of graphene-based molecular junctions. Employing a methodology that combines first-principles electronic structure methods with transport approaches, we show that the proton transfer reaction proceeds via a stepwise mechanism, giving rise to several tautomers with different conductance states. The analysis reveals that the relative stability of the tautomers as well as the energy barrier for their interconversion can be controlled by means of an external electrostatic field, which provides a mechanism for switching the nanojunction.