Abstract
The energy dependent thermoelectric response of a single molecule contains valuable information about its transmission function and its excited states. However, measuring it requires devices that can efficiently heat up one side of the molecule while being able to tune its electrochemical potential over a wide energy range. Furthermore, to increase junction stability, devices need to operate at cryogenic temperatures. In this work, we report on a device architecture to study the thermoelectric properties and the conductance of single molecules simultaneously over a wide energy range. We employ a sample heater in direct contact with the metallic electrodes contacting the single molecule which allows us to apply temperature biases up to ΔT = 60 K with minimal heating of the molecular junction. This makes these devices compatible with base temperatures Tbath < 2 K and enables studies in the linear (ΔT≪Tmolecule) and nonlinear (ΔT≫Tmolecule) thermoelectric transport regimes.
Highlights
Measuring it requires devices that can efficiently heat up one side of the molecule while being able to tune its electrochemical potential over a wide energy range
We report on a device architecture to study the thermoelectric properties and the conductance of single molecules simultaneously over a wide energy range
In order to perform detailed thermoelectric characterizations of single molecules, the device architecture needs to fulfill the following conditions: the device needs to be compatible with methods to contact single molecules; a gate electrode is necessary for a full characterization of the thermoelectric properties of the single-molecule junction; because of the thermal instabilities in molecular junctions, the devices need to be compatible with cryogenic temperatures; and for the same reason, the temperature difference between the hot and the cold side DT 1⁄4 Thot À Tcold in the molecular junction must not heat excessively the molecule itself
Summary
In order to perform detailed thermoelectric characterizations of single molecules, the device architecture needs to fulfill the following conditions: the device needs to be compatible with methods to contact single molecules; a gate electrode is necessary for a full characterization of the thermoelectric properties of the single-molecule junction; because of the thermal instabilities in molecular junctions, the devices need to be compatible with cryogenic temperatures; and for the same reason, the temperature difference between the hot and the cold side DT 1⁄4 Thot À Tcold in the molecular junction must not heat excessively the molecule itself.
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