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Engineering negative differential conductance with the Cu(111) surface state.

B W Heinrich1, M V Rastei, D-J Choi

  • 1Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg, CNRS Université de Strasbourg, F-67034 Strasbourg, France.

Physical Review Letters
|January 17, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Investigating electron tunneling using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy revealed unexpected negative differential conductance (NDC). This phenomenon, observed between a C60 orbital and copper surface states, depends on molecular orientation and barrier thickness.

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Area of Science:

  • Surface science
  • Condensed matter physics
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy (STS) are powerful tools for atomic-scale surface characterization.
  • Electron tunneling phenomena are fundamental to understanding electronic interactions at surfaces.
  • Shockley surface states on noble metal surfaces like Cu(111) exhibit unique electronic properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate electron tunneling dynamics from a fullerene (C60)-terminated tip to a Cu(111) surface.
  • To explore the origin of negative differential conductance (NDC) in this specific tunneling junction.
  • To understand the influence of molecular orientation and barrier thickness on tunneling characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy.
  • Employing a C60-terminated tip for electron tunneling experiments.
  • Systematically varying barrier thickness and C60 tip orientation.

Main Results:

  • Observed negative differential conductance (NDC) during tunneling between a C60 molecular orbital and Cu(111) Shockley surface states.
  • Demonstrated that NDC can be tuned by adjusting the barrier thickness.
  • Showcased that C60 orientation significantly impacts NDC, allowing for its complete extinction.
  • Attributed the orientation dependence to symmetry matching between the C60 molecular orbitals and the surface states.

Conclusions:

  • Electron tunneling from C60 to Cu(111) can exhibit unexpected NDC.
  • The symmetry of molecular orbitals and surface states plays a crucial role in determining tunneling transport properties.
  • NDC in such molecular junctions is controllable via physical parameters like orientation and barrier width.