Regensburg 2010 – scientific programme

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TT: Fachverband Tiefe Temperaturen

TT 40: TR: Nanoelectronics III: Molecular Electronics 2

TT 40.3: Talk

Friday, March 26, 2010, 11:15–11:45, H20

Single-Molecule Junctions: progress on gated mechanically controlled break junctions — •Stefan Ballmann, Stefan Wagner, Daniel Secker, and Heiko B. Weber — Lehrstuhl für Angewandte Physik, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 7/A3, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany

The mechanically controlled break junction (MCBJ) technique provides a powerful tool for immobilization of single molecules between two atomically sharp gold tips. However, three-terminal devices incorporating a gate electrode have not been realized on highly flexible substrates so far.

Here we report on promising methods to reproducibly structure an insulating layer in between two metal bridges within a three-step electron beam lithography process. The misalignment of both bridges has been successfully reduced below 25 nm. Moreover, the 15 nm insulating layer is highly stable upon bending the substrate while the leakage current remains below 1 nA at gate voltages of ± 4.5 V. The formation of atomically sharp gold contacts is not perturbed by the presence of the gate. We consider this as an important experimental step towards gated single-molecule contacts.