Using the notched wire mechanically controllable break junction technique charge transport of a single-molecule junction, containing the OPE3 molecule, is studied at room temperature. By deposition...Show moreUsing the notched wire mechanically controllable break junction technique charge transport of a single-molecule junction, containing the OPE3 molecule, is studied at room temperature. By deposition of molecules from solution between two gold leads we were able to determine the conductance of the OPE3 at (1.6±0.3)·10−4G0. The measurement speed of the LabVIEW control program for this experiment was improved by more than a factor of 7 compared to the previous version.Show less
The structure and conductive behaviour of graphene was studied under breaking. We were able to break and reconnect graphene using the mechanical break junction and observed a change in conductive...Show moreThe structure and conductive behaviour of graphene was studied under breaking. We were able to break and reconnect graphene using the mechanical break junction and observed a change in conductive behaviour from ohmic to non-linear; a possible explanation for the effect was offered. SEM, AFM and Raman spectroscopy determined that no large structural damage was caused by the breaking, nor was a decrease in graphene quality towards the break edge observed up until 1 micron near the edge; graphene was established to be present to within at least 100 nm of the edge. Furthermore, a modified mechanical break junction design for a graphene nanojunction was tested and deemed complicated: it was advised to loosen the requirements for future experiments. Lastly, an approach to electrochemically etching a graphene nanojunction was tested and approached theoretically; it was deemed not feasible using current graphene transfer techniques.Show less