Thermopower of single-molecule devices

Jens Koch, Felix von Oppen, Yuval Oreg, and Eran Sela
Phys. Rev. B 70, 195107 – Published 12 November 2004

Abstract

We investigate the thermopower of single molecules weakly coupled to metallic leads. We model the molecule in terms of the relevant electronic orbitals coupled to phonons corresponding to both internal vibrations and to oscillations of the molecule as a whole. The thermopower is computed by means of rate equations including both sequential-tunneling and cotunneling processes. Under certain conditions, the thermopower allows one to access the electronic and phononic excitation spectrum of the molecule in a linear-response measurement. In particular, we find that the phonon features are more pronounced for weak lead-molecule coupling. This way of measuring the excitation spectrum is less invasive than the more conventional current-voltage characteristic, which, by contrast, probes the system far from equilibrium.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 21 May 2004

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.70.195107

©2004 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Jens Koch1, Felix von Oppen1, Yuval Oreg2, and Eran Sela2

  • 1Institut für Theoretische Physik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 14, 14195 Berlin, Germany
  • 2Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute for Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 70, Iss. 19 — 15 November 2004

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×