Daan Kockmann

Parallel Electron-Hole Bilayer Conductivity from Electronic Interface Reconstruction

The perovskite SrTiO3-LaAlO3 structure has advanced to a model system to investigate the rich electronic phenomena arising at polar oxide interfaces. Using first principles calculations and transport measurements we demonstrate that an additional SrTiO3 capping layer prevents atomic reconstruction at the LaAlO3 surface and triggers the electronic reconstruction at a significantly lower LaAlO3 film thickness than for the uncapped systems. Combined theoretical and experimental evidence (from magnetotransport and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy) suggests two spatially separated sheets with electron and hole carriers, that are as close as 1 nm.

Reappraisal of variable-range hopping in quantum-dot solids

The temperature dependence of the electrical conductivity of assemblies of ZnO nanocrystals, studied with an electrochemically gated transistor is very accurately described by the relation ln sigma=ln sigma0-(T0/T)(x) with x=2/3 over the entire temperature range from 7 to 200 K, independent of charge concentration and dielectric environment. These results cannot be explained by existing models but are supported by results on Au nanocrystals where an identical temperature dependence was observed (Zabet-Khosousi et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 2006, 96 (15), 156403). We propose an adaptation of the Efros-Shklovskii variable-range hopping model by introducing an expression for nonresonant tunneling based on local energy fluctuations, which yields exactly the temperature dependence that is observed experimentally.

Transport through a Single Octanethiol Molecule

Octanethiol molecules adsorbed on Pt chains are studied with scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy at 77 K. The head of the octanethiol binds to a Pt atom and the tail is lying flat down on the chain. Open-loop current time traces reveal that the molecule wags its tail and attaches to the scanning tunneling microscopy-tip resulting in a dramatic increase of the current. We measured a single molecule resistance of 100-150 Mohms.