Electronic property modulation on molecular junctions: Electrochemistry and beyond

Abstract

This review provides opinions about the recent advances in electronic modulation of molecular junctions by electrochemical and other methods. In the first section, we focus on the modulation of the electrostatic potential on the molecule/electrolyte interface by the electrochemically induced ion absorption. The second section introduces the electrical responses to electrochemical redox reactions and chelation at the interfaces of molecular junctions on solid state. Meanwhile, the influence of other environmental factors on the electronic properties of molecular junctions is also discussed. These emerging studies show promising strategies for modulating molecular electronic properties by environmental factors and giving extended applications in environmental sensors and functional devices.