Abstract
Since the concepts for the implementation of data storage and logic gates used in conventional electronics cannot be simply downscaled to the level of single-molecule devices, new architectural paradigms are needed, where quantum interference (QI) effects are likely to provide an useful starting point. In order to be able to use QI for design purposes in single-molecule electronics, the relation between their occurrence and molecular structure has to be understood at such a level that simple guidelines for electrical engineering can be established. We made a big step towards this aim by developing a graphical scheme that allows for the prediction of the occurrence or absence of QI-induced minima in the transmission function, and the derivation of this method will form the centrepiece of this review article. In addition the possible usefulness of QI effects for thermoelectric devices is addressed, where the peak shape around a transmission minimum is of crucial importance and different rules for selecting suitable molecules have to be found.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Baer, R., Neuhauser, D.: Phase coherent electronics: a molecular switch based on quantum interference. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124, 4200–4201 (2002) doi:10.1021/ja016605s
Stadler, R., Forshaw, M., Joachim, C.: Modulation of electron transmission for molecular data storage. Nanotechnology 14, 138–142 (2003) doi:10.1088/09570–4484/14/2/307
Stadler, R., Ami, S., Forshaw, M., Joachim, C.: Integrating logic functions inside a single molecule. Nanotechnology 15, S115–S121 (2004) doi:10.1088/0957–4484/15/4/001
Van Dijk, E.H., Myles, D.J.T., Van der Veen, M.H., Hummelen, J.C.: Synthesis and properties of an anthraquinone-based redox switch for molecular electronics. Org. Lett. 8, 2333–2336 (2006) doi:10.1021/ol0606278
Andrews, D.Q., Solomon, G.C., Van Duyne, R.P., Ratner, M.A.: Single molecule electronics: increasing dynamic range and switching speed using cross-conjugated species. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 17309–17319 (2008) doi:10.1021/ja804399q
Markussen, T., Schiötz, J., Thygesen, K.S.: Electrochemical control of quantum interference in anthraquinone-based molecular switches. J. Chem. Phys. 132, 224104 (2010) doi:10.1063/1.3451265
Bergfield, J.P., Stafford, C.A.: Thermoelectric signatures of coherent transport in single-molecule heterojunctions. Nano Lett. 9, 3072–3076 (2009) doi:10.1021/nl901554s
Finch, C.M., Garcia-Suarez, V.M., Lambert, C.J.: Giant thermopower and figure of merit in single-molecule devices. Phys. Rev. B 79, 033405 (2009) doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.79.033405
Bergfield, J.P., Solis, M.A., Stafford, C.A.: Giant thermoelectric effect from transmission supernodes. ACS Nano 4, 5314–5320 (2010) doi:10.1021/nn100490g
Nozaki, D., Sevincli, H., Li, W., Gutierrez, R., Cuniberti, G.: Engineering the figure of merit and thermopower in single-molecule devices connected to semiconducting electrodes. Phys. Rev. B 81, 235406 (2010) doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.81.235406
Saha, K.K., Markussen, T., Thygesen, K.S., Nikolic, B.: Multiterminal single-molecule graphene-nanoribbon junctions with the thermoelectric figure of merit optimized via evanescent mode transport and gate voltage. Phys. Rev. B 84, 041412(R) (2011) doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.84.041412
Paulsson, M., Datta, S.: Thermoelectric effect in molecular electronics. Phys. Rev. B 67, 241403(R) (2003) doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.67.241403
Markussen, T., Stadler, R., Thygesen, K.S.: The relation between structure and quantum interference in single molecule junctions. Nano Lett. 10, 4260–4265 (2010) doi:10.1021/nl101688a
Markussen, T., Stadler, R., Thygesen, K.S.: Graphical prediction of quantum interference-induced transmission nodes in functionalized organic molecules. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 13, 14311–14317 (2011) doi:10.1039/C1CP20924H
Stadler, R., Markussen, T.: Controlling the transmission line shape of molecular t-stubs and potential thermoelectric applications. J. Chem. Phys. 135, 154109 (2011) doi:10.1063/1.3653790
Forshaw, M., Stadler, R., Crawley, D., Nikolic, K.: A short review of nanoelectronic architectures. Nanotechnology 15, S220–S223 (2004) doi:10.1088/0957–4484/15/4/019
Stadler, R., Ami, S., Forshaw, M., Joachim, C.: A memory/adder model based on single C60 molecular transistors. Nanotechnology 12, 350–357 (2011) doi:10.1088/0957–4484/12/3/324
Stadler, R., Forshaw, M.: The performance of hybrid-molecular architectures with current CMOS technology as a reference. Physica E 13, 930–933 (2002) doi:10.1016/S1386–9477(02)00237–0
Stadler, R., Ami, S., Forshaw, M., Joachim, C.: A tight-binding study of computer circuits for adding numbers inside a molecule. Nanotechnology 13, 424–428 (2002) doi:10.1088/0957–4484/13/3/336
Stadler, R., Ami, S., Forshaw, M., Joachim, C.: A tight-binding study of a 1-bit half-adder based on diode logic integrated inside a single molecule. Nanotechnology 14: 722–732 (2003) doi:10.1088/0957-4484/14/7/306
Porod, W., Shao, Z., Lent, C.S.: Transmission resonances and zeros in quantum waveguides with resonantly coupled cavities. Appl. Phys. Lett. 61, 1350 (1992) doi:10.1063/1.107588
Porod, W., Shao, Z., Lent, C.S.: Resonance-antiresonance line shape for transmission in quantum waveguides with resonantly coupled cavities. Phys. Rev. B 48, 8495–8498 (1993) doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.48.8495
Acknowledgements
R.S. is currently supported by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, project Nr. P22548, and is deeply indebted to his collaborators in the work reviewed in this chapter, namely, Troels Markussen, Kristian S. Thygesen, Mike Forshaw, Christian Joachim and Stephane Ami.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Stadler, R. (2013). Quantum Interference Effects in Electron Transport: How to Select Suitable Molecules for Logic Gates and Thermoelectric Devices. In: Lorente, N., Joachim, C. (eds) Architecture and Design of Molecule Logic Gates and Atom Circuits. Advances in Atom and Single Molecule Machines. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33137-4_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33137-4_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-33136-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-33137-4
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)