Exploring molecular junctions via simultaneous conductance and thermopower measurements
(2026)
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- Abstract
- (en) Molecular electronics explores the use of molecules as active components in electronic circuits. Because single molecules are nanometric, chemically tunable, and governed by nanoscale physics, they may act as wires, diodes, switches, or more complex electronic elements. These systems are studied in molecular junctions, where one molecule is trapped between two metallic electrodes. Their transport properties are highly sensitive to junction geometry, making even small changes in bonding, conformation, or environment difficult to interpret. Most molecular-junction experiments rely on electrical conductance measurements. Conductance is an essential observable, but it gives only partial information on the junction. During the time of this doctoral work, I developed and used scanning tunneling microscope break-junction platforms to measure both the electrical conductance 𝐺 and the Seebeck coefficient 𝑆 of molecular junctions. While conductance gives the main transport response, the Seebeck coefficient provides complementary information and helps to better characterize the junction.
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Citations
Pirard, J. (2026). Exploring molecular junctions via simultaneous conductance and thermopower measurements. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/279000