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Molecular electronic devices based on few and single-molecules have the advantage that the electronic signature of the device is directly dependent on the electronic structure of the molecules as well as of the electrode-molecule junction. In this work, we use a two-step approach to synthesise functionalized nanomolecular electronic devices (nanoMoED). In first step we apply an organic solvent-based gold nanoparticle (AuNP) synthesis method to form either a 1-dodecanethiol or a mixed 1-dodecanethiol/omega-tetraphenyl ether substituted 1-dodecanethiol ligand shell. The functionalization of these AuNPs is tuned in a second step by a ligand functionalization process where biphenyldithiol (BPDT) molecules are introduced as bridging ligands into the shell of the AuNPs. From subsequent structural analysis and electrical measurements, we could observe a successful molecular functionalization in nanoMoED devices as well as we could deduce that differences in electrical properties between two different device types are related to the differences in the molecular functionalization process for the two different AuNPs synthesized in first step. The same devices yielded successful NO2 gas sensing. This opens the pathway for a simplified synthesis/fabrication of molecular electronic devices with application potential.

We explore the possibility of using van der Waals bonded heterostructures of stacked together 2D bilayer black phosphorus (BP) for nanoscale device applications. The electronic properties of BP in AA stacking and 90 degrees twisted are studied with density functional theory. Furthermore, we study the homogeneous nanojunction architecture of BP to use its anisotropic properties. Using the first principles simulations along with the NEGF approach, we calculate the quantum transport properties of the nanojunction setup. The interlayer direction dependent current characteristics are explained in different setups. Our result revealed that the 90 degrees twisted nanojunction device would be a potential rectifier despite having no p-n junction characteristics only due to the intrinsic anisotropy of the material, making tunneling between armchair- and zigzag-directional BP sheets asymmetric.

Overcoming the global energy crisis due to vast economic expansion with the advent of human reliance on energy-consuming labor-saving devices necessitates the demand for next-generation technologies in the form of cleaner energy storage devices. The technology accelerates with the pace of developing energy storage devices to meet the requirements wherever an unanticipated burst of power is indeed needed in a very short time. Supercapacitors are predicted to be future power vehicles because they promise faster charging times and do not rely on rare elements such as lithium. At the same time, they are key nanoscale device elements for high-frequency noise filtering with the capability of storing and releasing energy by electrostatic interactions between the ions in the electrolyte and the charge accumulated at the active electrode during the charge/discharge process. There have been several developments to increase the functionality of electrodes or finding a new electrolyte for higher energy density, but this field is still open to witness the developments in reliable materials-based energy technologies. Nanoscale materials have emerged as promising candidates for the electrode choice, especially in 2D sheet and folded tubular network forms. Due to their unique hierarchical architecture, excellent electrical and mechanical properties, and high specific surface area, nanotubular networks have been widely investigated as efficient electrode materials in supercapacitors, while maintaining their inherent characteristics of high power and long cycling life. In this review, we briefly present the evolution, classification, functionality, and application of supercapacitors from the viewpoint of nanostructured materials to apprehend the mechanism and construction of advanced supercapacitors for next-generation storage devices.

The paper [Prasongkit et al., RSC Adv., 2016, 64, 59299] by Prasongkit and Rocha calculates the binding energy of gas molecules attached to 1-8-biphenyl-dithiol (BPDT) molecules. We find from our calculations, that the binding energies calculated for the NO2 molecules are too low, most likely due to lacking optimization of the site at which the gas molecule binds to the BPDT. Though not shown explicitly here, the same statement might apply to the other gas molecules used in this paper.

Blue fluorescent hexagonal boron nitride quantum dots (h-BNQDs) of similar to 10 nm size as an effective enhancer for DNA cleavage activity of anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) were synthesized using simple one-step hydrothermal disintegration of exfoliated hexagonal boron nitride at very low temperature similar to 120 degrees C. Boron nitride quantum dots ( BNQDs) at a concentration of 25 mu g/ml enhanced DNA cleavage activity of DOX up to 70% as checked by converting supercoiled fragment into nicked circular PBR322 DNA. The interaction of BNQDs with DOX is proportional to the concentration of BNQDs, with binding constant K-b similar to 0.07338 mu g/ml. In addition, ab initio theoretical results indicate that DOX is absorbed on BNQDs at the N-terminated edge with binding energy -1.075 eV and prevented the normal replication mechanisms in DNA. BNQDs have been shown to kill the breast cancer cell MCF-7 extensively as compared with the normal human keratinocyte cell HaCaT. The cytotoxicity of BNQDs may be correlated with reduced reactive oxygen species level and increased apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, which may be liable to enhance the anticancerous activity of DOX. The results provide a base to develop BNQD-DOX as a more effective anticancer drug.

The interaction of a gas molecule with a sensing material causes the highest change in the electronic structure of the latter, when this material consists of only a few atoms. If the sensing material consists of a short, conductive molecule, the sensing action can be furthermore probed by connecting such molecules to nanoelectrodes. Here, we report that NO2 molecules that adhere to 4,4'-biphenyldithiol (BPDT) bound to Au surfaces lead to a change of the electrical transmission of the BPDT. The related device shows reproducible, stable measurements and is so far the smallest (<20 nm) gas sensor. It demonstrates modulation of charge transport through molecules upon exposure to nitrogen dioxide down to concentrations of 55 ppb. We have evaluated several devices and exposure conditions and obtained a close to linear dependence of the sensor response on the gas concentration.

Two recent reports on realization of an elemental 2D analogue of graphene:borophene (Science, 2015, 350, 1513-1516; Nat. Chem., 2016, 8, 563-568) focus on the inherent anisotropy and directional dependence of the electronic properties of borophene polymorphs. Achieving stable 2D borophene structures may lead to some degree of strain in the system because of the substrate-lattice mismatch. We use first principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the structural, electronic and transport properties of (12) and -borophene polymorphs. We verified the directional dependency and found the tunable anisotropic behavior of the transport properties in these two polymorphs. We find that strain as low as 6% brings remarkable changes in the properties of these two structures. We further investigate current-voltage (I-V) characteristics in the low bias regime after applying a strain to see how the anisotropy of the current is affected. Such observations like the sizeable tuning of transport and I-V characteristics at the expense of minimal strain suggest the suitability of 2D borophene for futuristic device applications.

To the league of rapidly expanding 2D materials, borophene is a recent addition. Herein, a combination of ab initio density functional theory (DFT) and nonequilibrium Green's function (NEGF) based methods is used to estimate the prospects of this promising elemental 2D material for gas sensing applications. We note that the binding of target gas molecules such as CO, NO, NO2, NH3, and CO2 is quite strong on the borophene surface. Interestingly, our computed binding energies are far stronger than several other reported 2D materials like graphene, MoS2, and phosphorene. Further rationalization of stronger binding is made with the help of charge transfer analysis. The sensitivity of the borophene for these gases is also interpreted in terms of computing the vibrational spectra of the adsorbed gases on top of borophene, which show dramatic shift from their gas phase reference values. The metallic nature of borophene enables us to devise a setup considering the same substrate as electrodes. From the computation of the transmission function of system (gas + borophene), appreciable changes in the transmission functions are noted compared to pristine borophene surface. The measurements of current-voltage (I-V) characteristics unambiguously demonstrate the presence and absence of gas molecules (acting as ON and OFF states), strengthening the plausibility of a borophene based gas sensing device. As we extol the extraordinary sensitivity of borophene, we assert that this elemental 2D material is likely to attract subsequent interest.

Recent advances in solid-state nano-device-based DNA sequencing are at the helm of the development of a new paradigm, commonly referred to as personalized medicines. Paying heed to a timely need for standardizing robust nanodevices for cheap, fast, and scalable DNA detection, in this article, the nanogap formed by the lateral heterostructure of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is explored as a potential architecture. These heterostructures have been realized experimentally, and our study boasts the idea that the passivation of the edge of the graphene electrode with hBN will solve many of practical problems, such as high reactivity of the graphene edge and difficulty in controlled engineering of the graphene edge structure, while retaining the nanogap setup as a useful nanodevice for sensing applications. Employing first-principle density-functional-theory-based nonequilibrium Greens function methods, we identify that the DNA building blocks, nucleobases, uniquely couple with the states of the nanogap, and the resulting induced states can be attributed as leaving a fingerprint of the DNA sequence in the computed current-voltage (I-V) characteristic. Two bias windows are put forward: lower (1-1.2 V) and higher (2.7-3 V), where unique identification of all four bases is possible from the current traces, although higher sensitivity is obtained at the higher voltage window. Our study can be a practical guide for experimentalists toward development of a nanodevice DNA sensor based on graphene-hBN heterostructures.

Dilithium benzenedipropiolate was prepared and investigated as a potential negative electrode material for secondary lithium-ion batteries. In addition to the expected reduction of its carbonyls, this material can reduce and reversibly oxidize its unsaturated carbon–carbon bonds leading to a Li/C ratio of 1/1 and a specific capacity as high as 1363 mAh g–1: the highest ever reported for a lithium carboxylate. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the lithiation is preferential on the propiolate carbons.

Reproducibility, stability and the coupling between electrical and molecular properties are central challenges in the field of molecular electronics. The field not only needs devices that fulfill these criteria but they also need to be up-scalable to application size. In this work, few-molecule based electronics devices with reproducible electrical characteristics are demonstrated. Our previously reported 5 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNP) coated with omega-triphenylmethyl (trityl) protected 1,8-octanedithiol molecules are trapped in between sub-20 nm gap spacing gold nanoelectrodes forming AuNP-molecule network. When the trityl groups are removed, reproducible devices and stable Au-thiol junctions are established on both ends of the alkane segment. The resistance of more than 50 devices is reduced by orders of magnitude as well as a reduction of the spread in the resistance histogram is observed. By density functional theory calculations the orders of magnitude decrease in resistance can be explained and supported by TEM observations thus indicating that the resistance changes and strongly improved resistance spread are related to the establishment of reproducible and stable metal-molecule bonds. The same experimental sequence is carried out using 1,6-hexanedithiol functionalized AuNPs. The average resistances as a function of molecular length, demonstrated herein, are comparable to the one found in single molecule devices.

For reducing the size and power consumption of electronic devices, building components with molecules is one alternative1. This has not been a success yet due to difficulty in creating stable molecular junctions2, 3. In efforts of creating molecular devices, we have developed the nanoparticle-nanoelectrode-molecule-bridge platform4 which has been employed to prepare 1,8 octanedithiol based molecular devices with stable metal molecule junctions5 and enabled us to observe the vibrational signals from inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) measurements6. The platform is electrically and mechanically stable over periods of months7. Nanoparticle-nanoelectrode-molecule bridge platform is fabricated by the standard cleanroom techniques; where 150 nm wide patterns are developed using combination of Electron beam lithography and Photolithography. Gold is deposited using standard resistive evaporation. A very fine cut is made in the gold line using Focused Beam of Gallium ions that results in less than 20 nm separation (nanogap) between the electrodes. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coated with stopper ligands and alkane thiols are synthesized by wet chemistry. Proportions of stoppers and alkane monothiols is controlled and nano particles with 5% to 10% stopper coverage (90% to 95% monothiols) are synthesized and used in present work. These functionalized AuNPs are trapped in the nanogaps using dielectrophoretic trapping technique. Here we present fabrication of molecular electronic nano devices based on biphenyl-4,4′-dithiol and TBTs by molecular place exchange reaction in nano sized devices. The devices are prepared by replacing the stopper ligand attached to the surface of the AuNPs with the active molecules, using ligand exchange reaction which is carried out in inert atmosphere by placing trapped nanogaps in solution of target molecules. The reaction can take upto 100 hours to reach equilibrium. Electrical characterization before and after ligand exchange shows, Molecular Electronics

The fundamental electronic structure properties of substituted poly(penta)fulvenes and pentafulvene-based polymers are analyzed through qualitative molecular orbital (MO) theory combined with calculations at the B3LYP and HSE06 hybrid density functional theory (DFT) levels. We argue that the pentafulvene monomer unit has a unique character because electron density in the exocyclic C=C double bond can be polarized into and out of the five-membered ring, a feature that is not available to other more commonly used monomers. It is investigated how the energy gaps between the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (HOMO and LUMO, respectively), as approximate band gaps, are influenced by exocyclic substitution, introduction of linker groups, benzannulation, and ring substitution. In particular, the exocyclic positions of the fulvene act as handles by which the electronic structure of the polymer can be tuned between the quinoid and fulvenoid valence bond isomers; electron-withdrawing exocyclic substituents lead to polyfulvenes in the quinoid form while those with electron-donating substituents prefer the fulvenoid. Taken together, the HOMO-LUMO gaps of polyfulvenes can be tuned extensively, varying in ranges 0.77-2.44 eV (B3LYP) and 0.35-2.00 eV (HSE06) suggesting that they are a class of polymers with highly interesting, yet nearly unexplored, properties.