ABSTRACT
The advanced engineering for constructing a molecular electronic device requires various nano-size elements such as molecular line, molecular switch and diode. With the development of scanning probe techniques, particularly scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), scientists can, at atomic scale, find device-like characteristics in pre-existing structures, create new structures by atomic manipulation and try to apply them for industrial uses. Electrochemical techniques can be employed to construct atomic or molecular patterns, films and nanostructures on solid surface in electrolyte solutions. The electrochemical STM (ECSTM), combining electrochemistry and STM, can effectively work in electrolyte solution similarly as STM in UHV or ambient conditions and monitor the formation and transition process of molecule structure on the solid surface with the electrode potential.
