Summary
Group website: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/albrechtgroup
The group's research interests focus on electrochemical processes on the nanoscale. This includes ion and polyelectrolyte translocation through ultra-small nanopores in solid state membranes, but also charge transport across individual molecules, such as inorganic transition metal complexes, nanoparticles, or biomolecules (molecular electronics). The key here is to "wire" a single molecule to two electrodes in a nanometre-size tunnelling junction and then study its charge transport characteristics. We mainly employ electrochemical scanning tunnelling microscopy (ECSTM), which combines ultimate spatial resolution (atoms!) with the detection of ultra-low currents (~ pA), and can be used in various electrochemical environments, including aqueous electrolytes and ionic liquids. Other techniques are chip-based nanoelectrodes, which are fabricated using state-of-the-art semiconductor processing tools. We are interested in both fundamental and applied aspects of single-molecular electron transport. How does the immediate environment of a molecule influence its electron transport properties? Can one use such a configuration as device components in nanoscale electronic circuitry? Is it possible to use such a concept in innovative sensor applications? This is a highly active, but challenging area of research, which benefits from an interdisciplinary approach and strong collaborative links to other research groups in chemical synthesis, engineering, semiconductor physics and charge transport theory. If you would like to know more, please do not hesitate to contact us!
See also our website at the London Centre for Nanotechnology and at Nanoscience @ Imperial.
We are part of the Chemical Physics section.
Looking for a PhD studentship?
Please feel free to contact the respective group leader!
Publications
Journals
Hamill JM, Ismael A, Al-Jobory A, et al., 2023, Quantum Interference and Contact Effects in the Thermoelectric Performance of Anthracene-Based Molecules., J Phys Chem C Nanomater Interfaces, Vol:127, ISSN:1932-7447, Pages:7484-7491
Sarigamala KK, Albrecht T, Shukla S, et al., 2023, In situ interfacial nanoengineering of imidazole-bridged one-dimensional AgVO<inf>3</inf> nanoribbons by Ag fractals, Materials Today Chemistry, Vol:27
Hamill JM, Ismael A, Al-Jobory A, et al., 2022, Quantum Interference and Contact Effects in Thermoelectric Performance of Anthracene-Based Molecules
Weaver C, Fortuin AC, Vladyka A, et al., 2022, Unsupervised classification of voltammetric data beyond principal component analysis, Chemical Communications, Vol:58, ISSN:1359-7345, Pages:10170-10173
Wilkinson LA, Bennett TLR, Grace IM, et al., 2022, Assembly, structure and thermoelectric properties of 1,1 '-dialkynylferrocene 'hinges', Chemical Science, ISSN:2041-6520