Polyoxometalates (POMs) are promising candidates for molecular electronic applications
because (1) they are inorganic molecules, which have better CMOS compatibility compared
to organic molecules; (2) they are easily synthesized in a one-pot reaction from metal
oxides (MO
x
) (where the metal M can be, e.g., W, V, or Mo,
and
x
is an integer between 4 and 7); (3) POMs can self-assemble to
form various shapes and configurations, and thus the chemical synthesis can be tailored
for specific device performance; and (4) they are redox-active with multiple states that
have a very low voltage switching between polarized states. However, a deep
understanding is required if we are to make commercial molecular devices a reality.
Simulation and modeling are the most time efficient and cost-effective methods to
evaluate a potential device performance. Here, we use density functional theory in
combination with nonequilibrium Green’s function to study the transport
properties of
[W
18
O
54
(SO
3
)
2
]
4–
, a POM
cluster, in a variety of molecular junction configurations. Our calculations reveal that
the transport profile not only is linked to the electronic structure of the molecule but
also is influenced by contact geometry and presence of ions. More specifically, the
contact geometry and the number of bonds between the POM and the electrodes determine
the current flow. Hence, strong and reproducible contact between the leads and the
molecule is mandatory to establish a reliable fabrication process. Moreover, although
often ignored, our simulations show that the charge balancing counterions activate the
conductance channels intrinsic to the molecule, leading to a dramatic increase in the
computed current at low bias. Therefore, the role of these counterions cannot be ignored
when molecular based devices are fabricated. In summary, this work shows that the
current transport in POM junctions is determined by not only the contact geometry
between the molecule and the electrode but also the presence of ions around the
molecule. This significantly impacts the transport properties in such nanoscale
molecular electronic devices.