English

Interaction-induced negative differential resistance in asymmetric molecular junctions

Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics 2013-01-10 v1

Abstract

Combining insights from quantum chemistry calculations with master equations, we discuss a mechanism for negative differential resistance (NDR) in molecular junctions, operated in the regime of weak tunnel coupling. The NDR originates from an interplay of orbital spatial asymmetry and strong electron-electron interaction, which causes the molecule to become trapped in a non-conducting state above a voltage threshold. We show how the desired asymmetry can be selectively introduced in individual orbitals in e.g., OPE-type molecules by functionalization with a suitable side group, which is in linear conjugation to one end of the molecule and cross-conjugated to the other end.

Cite

@article{arxiv.1012.3856,
  title  = {Interaction-induced negative differential resistance in asymmetric molecular junctions},
  author = {Martin Leijnse and Wei Sun and Mogens Brøndsted Nielsen and Per Hedegård and Karsten Flensberg},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1012.3856},
  year   = {2013}
}

Comments

8 pages

R2 v1 2026-06-21T17:00:25.431Z