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Updated: Apr 9, 2026

Covalent Attachment of Single Molecules for AFM-based Force Spectroscopy
Published on: March 16, 2020
Imine linkers enable the formation of robust single-molecule junctions
Yidong Xiao1, Chaochao Xie2, Ya-Qi Kong3
1Department of Physics, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong SAR, China. haixinli@cityu.edu.hk.
None:
While imine (CN) groups are renowned for their role in dynamic chemistry, whether imine binds to Au electrodes for forming single-molecule junctions and their electronic properties remain elusive. We demonstrate that imine groups serve as chemical anchors for the reliable formation of single-molecule junctions with gold electrodes and imine-terminated wires show slightly higher conductance than their amine-terminated analogues. Critically, stable junction formation under steric hindrance is achieved with imines when amines fail. These results establish imines as versatile linkers for molecular junction design.
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