Polarizability is a key parameter for molecular electronics

Angélique Gillet (1) , Sébastien Cher (1) , Marine Tassé (2) , Thomas Blon (1) , Sandra Alves (3) , Guillaume Izzet (3) , Bruno Chaudret (1) , Anna Proust (3) , Phillipe Demont (4, 5) , Florence Volatron (3) , Simon Tricard (1)

1 LPCNO - Laboratoire de physique et chimie des nano-objets
2 LCC - Laboratoire de chimie de coordination
3 IPCM - Institut Parisien de Chimie Moléculaire
4 ENSIACET - Ecole nationale supérieure des ingénieurs en arts chimiques et technologiques
5 CIRIMAT - Centre interuniversitaire de recherche et d'ingenierie des matériaux

Identifying descriptors that govern charge transport in molecular electronics is of prime importance for the elaboration of devices. The effects of molecule characteristics, such as size, bulkiness or charge, have been widely reported. Herein, we show that the molecule polarizability can be a crucial parameter to consider. To this end, platinum nanoparticle self-assemblies (PtNP SAs) are synthesized in solution, including a series of polyoxometalates (POMs). The charge of the POM unit can be modified according to the nature of the central heteroatom while keeping its size constant. POM hybrids that display remote terminal thiol functions strongly anchor the PtNP surface to form robust SAs. IV curves, recorded by conductive AFM, show a decrease in Coulomb blockade as the dielectric constant of the POMs increases. In this system, charge transport across molecular junctions can be interpreted as variations in polarizability, which is directly related to the dielectric constant.

Domaines: Chimie

Angélique Gillet, Sébastien Cher, Marine Tassé, Thomas Blon, Sandra Alves, et al.. Polarizability is a key parameter for molecular electronics. Nanoscale Horizons, 2021, 6 (3), pp.271-276. ⟨10.1039/d0nh00583e⟩. ⟨hal-03128626⟩