Graphene Electrodes Improve Efficiency of Molecular Electronic Nanodevices

(University of Bern, June 09, 2017)

The field of nanoscale molecular electronics aims to exploit individual molecules as the building blocks for electronic devices, to improve functionality and aid device miniaturization as well as control. One challenge is to ensure stable contacts between the molecules and metals used, that can operate at room temperature and provide reproducible results. Graphene possesses excellent mechanical stability, plus exceptionally high electronic and thermal conductive properties, making it attractive for use in molecular electronics. As reported in Science Advances, an international team of researchers led by the University of Bern and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) has demonstrated how to improve the functionality of next-generation molecular electronic devices using graphene. This could lead to smaller, higher-performance devices for diverse applications, including molecular sensing, flexible electronics, and energy conversion and storage.