Single-molecule devices with graphene electrodes

Abstract

Several technological issues have to be faced to realize devices working at the single molecule level. One of the main challenges consists of defining methods to fabricate electrodes to make contact with single molecules. Here, we report the realization of novel spintronic devices made of a TbPc₂ single molecule embedded between two nanometer-separated graphene electrodes, obtained by feedback-controlled electroburning. We demonstrate that this approach allows the realisation of devices working at low temperature. With these, we were able to characterize the magnetic exchange coupling between the electronic spin of the Tb³⁺ magnetic core and the current passing through the molecular system in the Coulomb blockade regime, thus showing that the use of graphene is a promising way forward in addressing single molecules.