{
  "id": "0901.1134",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2009-01-08T21:08:47.000Z",
  "updated": "2009-01-08T21:08:47.000Z",
  "title": "Formation and Evolution of Single Molecule Junctions",
  "authors": [
    "M. Kamenetska",
    "M. Koentopp",
    "A. C. Whalley",
    "Y. S. Park",
    "M. L. Steigerwald",
    "C. Nuckolls",
    "M. S. Hybertsen",
    "L. Venkataraman"
  ],
  "comment": "10 pages, 4 figures, submitted",
  "doi": "10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.126803",
  "categories": [
    "cond-mat.mes-hall",
    "cond-mat.mtrl-sci"
  ],
  "abstract": "We analyze the formation and evolution statistics of single molecule junctions bonded to gold electrodes using amine, methyl sulfide and dimethyl phosphine link groups by measuring conductance as a function of junction elongation. For each link, maximum elongation and formation probability increase with molecular length, strongly suggesting that processes other than just metal-molecule bond breakage play a key role in junction evolution under stress. Density functional theory calculations of adiabatic trajectories show sequences of atomic-scale changes in junction structure, including shifts in attachment point, that account for the long conductance plateau lengths observed.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2009-01-08T21:08:47.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "subjects": [
      "73.63.Rt",
      "61.46.-w",
      "81.07.Nb",
      "85.65.+h"
    ],
    "keywords": [
      "metal-molecule bond breakage play",
      "density functional theory calculations",
      "long conductance plateau lengths",
      "dimethyl phosphine link groups",
      "formation probability increase"
    ],
    "tags": [
      "journal article"
    ],
    "publication": {
      "publisher": "APS",
      "journal": "Physical Review Letters",
      "year": 2009,
      "month": "Mar",
      "volume": 102,
      "number": 12,
      "pages": 126803
    },
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 10,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable",
      "adsabs": "2009PhRvL.102l6803K"
    }
  }
}