Admission Requirements none
Description
The course introduces the conductance properties of molecular systems and state-of-the-art research on this topic. There is an emphasis on metal/single-molecule/metal junctions, but organic film devices are also treated. Since this interdisciplinary course has a clear chemical component, a few lectures are given by guest lecturers with a chemistry background.
Since this is a joint Delft-Leiden course, part of the lectures may be given in Delft.
Course Objectives
This course aims to merge knowledge of charge transport physics and organic chemistry to gain insight in the vivid field of molecular electronics. Key topics will hence be:
Molecular structure, sigma- and pi-bonds, tight binding method
Quantum charge transport in molecules, Landauer description
Electron-phonon coupling in molecular junctions
Theoretical methods (DFT, Hartree-Fock, Born-Oppenheimer approximation)
Molecular functionality
Experimental techniques for single-molecular conductance
Molecular switching
Molecular spin transport
Timetable
Mode of instruction
Lectures and group discussions on relevant scientific articles. Every week, the students are required to solve a set of problems.
Assessment method
Written examination with open problems.
Blackboard
Blackboard is used to provide the students with notes/slides and scientific articles.
To have access to Blackboard you need a ULCN-account.Blackboard UL
Reading list
Molecular electronics: an introduction to theory and experiment, by Juan Carlos Cuevas and Elke Scheer.
Additional lectures notes/slides and scientific papers on Blackboard
Contact
Leiden:
Contactdetails Teacher(s):Dr.ir.S.J van der Molen(Sense Jan)
Contactdetails Teacher(s):Prof.dr. J.van Ruitenbeek(Jan)
Delft:
Contactdetails Teacher(s):Prof.dr.ir.H. van der Zant(Herre)