Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Metal-Semiconductor Junctions01:24

Metal-Semiconductor Junctions

564
The contact of metal and semiconductor can lead to the formation of a junction with either Schottky or Ohmic behavior.
Schottky Barriers
Schottky barriers arise when a metal with a work function (Φm) contacts a semiconductor with a different work function (Φs). Initially, electrons transfer until the Fermi levels of the metal and semiconductor align at equilibrium. For instance, if Φm > Φs, the semiconductor Fermi level is higher than the metal's before contact. The...
564
Gap Junctions01:37

Gap Junctions

54.7K
Multicellular organisms employ a variety of ways for cells to communicate with each other. Gap junctions are specialized proteins that form pores between neighboring cells in animals, connecting the cytoplasm between the two, and allowing for the exchange of molecules and ions. They are found in a wide range of invertebrate and vertebrate species, mediate numerous functions including cell differentiation and development, and are associated with numerous human diseases, including cardiac and...
54.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Amplified chiroptic response in a multi-helical penta-perylene structure.

Chemical science·2026
Same author

Designing effective single-molecule electromagnets with radially π-conjugated carbon structures.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Scanning Tunneling Microscope-Based Break-Junction TechniqueA Tutorial.

ACS physical chemistry Au·2026
Same author

A Computationally Efficient and Accurate Method for Predicting Conductance of Single-Molecule Junctions.

Nano letters·2026
Same author

Strong Coupling in Orthogonal Nanographenes.

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026
Same author

Ion-Conductive Wires Form High-Performance All-Solid-State Polymer Electrolytes.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 14, 2025

Single-Molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Methods for Real-Time Investigation of the Holliday Junction Resolution by GEN1
11:27

Single-Molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Methods for Real-Time Investigation of the Holliday Junction Resolution by GEN1

Published on: September 18, 2019

9.6K

Single-Molecule Junction Formation in Break-Junction Measurements.

Tianren Fu1, Kathleen Frommer1, Colin Nuckolls1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, United States.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
|November 1, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The scanning tunneling microscope-break junction technique studies single-molecule junctions by forming and rupturing gold contacts. Machine learning reveals pre-rupture gold contact structure dictates junction formation probability.

More Related Videos

Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface
13:22

Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface

Published on: November 2, 2011

15.1K
Author Spotlight: Evaluation of Protein-Condensate Dynamics in Live Human Cells
06:48

Author Spotlight: Evaluation of Protein-Condensate Dynamics in Live Human Cells

Published on: January 5, 2024

4.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Oct 14, 2025

Single-Molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Methods for Real-Time Investigation of the Holliday Junction Resolution by GEN1
11:27

Single-Molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Methods for Real-Time Investigation of the Holliday Junction Resolution by GEN1

Published on: September 18, 2019

9.6K
Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface
13:22

Adhesion Frequency Assay for In Situ Kinetics Analysis of Cross-Junctional Molecular Interactions at the Cell-Cell Interface

Published on: November 2, 2011

15.1K
Author Spotlight: Evaluation of Protein-Condensate Dynamics in Live Human Cells
06:48

Author Spotlight: Evaluation of Protein-Condensate Dynamics in Live Human Cells

Published on: January 5, 2024

4.3K

Area of Science:

  • Nanoscience and nanotechnology
  • Molecular electronics
  • Surface science

Background:

  • The scanning tunneling microscope-based break-junction (STM-BJ) technique is widely used for single-molecule electronic property studies.
  • This method involves repeated formation and rupture of gold (Au) contacts in the presence of target molecules.
  • High junction formation probabilities (70-95%) raise questions about the influence of nanoscale electrode structure on the process.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how the nanoscale structure of the gold electrode before metal point contact rupture affects junction formation.
  • To analyze conductance traces from STM-BJ experiments to understand junction formation mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the scanning tunneling microscope-based break-junction (STM-BJ) technique.
  • Applied correlation analysis to conductance traces.
  • Employed multiple machine learning tools, including gradient-boosted trees and neural networks.

Main Results:

  • Identified two key features of the gold-gold contact prior to rupture that influence contact relaxation (snapback).
  • These features also determine the probability of molecular junction formation.
  • Data indicate molecular junctions form before the gold-gold contact ruptures.

Conclusions:

  • The nanoscale structure of the gold contact before rupture is critical for molecular junction formation.
  • Molecular junctions form during the contact relaxation phase, prior to complete rupture.
  • This finding explains the high probability of junction formation observed in room-temperature solution measurements using STM-BJ.