Kondo Resonances in Molecular Devices

TL;DR

This paper reviews the physical phenomena of Kondo resonances in single-molecule electronic devices, highlighting their origins, experimental observations, and the interplay with molecular properties, emphasizing recent advances in control and manipulation.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of Kondo resonances in molecular devices, focusing on experimental insights and the interplay with molecular properties, including recent control techniques.

Findings

Kondo resonances observed in single-molecule devices.

Interaction between Kondo effect and molecular properties.

Advances in manipulating Kondo states in nanoscale systems.

Abstract

Molecular electronic devices currently serve as a platform for studying a variety of physical phenomena only accessible at the nanometer scale. One such phenomenon is the highly correlated electronic state responsible for the Kondo effect, manifested here as a "Kondo resonance" in the conductance. Because the Kondo effect results from strong electron-electron interactions, it is not captured by the usual quantum chemistry approaches traditionally applied to understand chemical electron transfer. In this review we will discuss the origins and phenomenology of Kondo resonances observed in single molecule devices, focusing primarily on the spin-1/2 Kondo state arising from a single unpaired electron. We explore the rich physical system of a single-molecule device, which offers a unique spectroscopic tool for investigating the interplay of emergent Kondo behavior and such properties as molecular orbital transitions and vibrational modes. We will additionally address more exotic systems, such as higher spin states in the Kondo regime, and we will review recent experimental advances in the ability to manipulate and exert control over these nanoscale devices.