Scanning Probe Transport

Atomically precise low-dimensional nanostructures serve as ideal model systems to understand electronic quantum transport at reduced dimensions and ultimately create and control quantum electronics. Based on very promising proof-concept results, we want to explore electronic transport through single metal-organic wires and sheets at the nanoscale. In this project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), we want to obtain a fundamental understanding of this largely unexplored class of materials and to ultimately together exploit our new knowledge towards prototype devices.

We synthesize metal-organic wires (i.e. 1D coordination polymers) by chemical reaction of metal atoms and precursor molecules directly at surfaces in ultra-high-vacuum.  In order to characterize and understand their formation, electronic properties and in particular their electronic conductivity, we combine low-temperature scanning probe microscopy (scanning tunnelling/non-contact atomic force microscopy – STM/nc-AFM), X-ray spectroscopy methods (photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy) with and micro/nanofabrication.