View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Precise Probing of Interfaces at the Single-Molecule Scale.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Precise Probing of Interfaces at the Single-Molecule Scale.
Authors: Zhang, Enyu1 (AUTHOR), Chen, Zhiping1 (AUTHOR), Wang, Shuai (AUTHOR), Zhao, Cong1 (AUTHOR), Ju, Hongyu1 (AUTHOR), Sun, Yingze1 (AUTHOR), Jia, Chuancheng (AUTHOR) jiacc@nankai.edu.cn
Source: Nanomaterials (2079-4991). May2026, Vol. 16 Issue 10, p573. 28p.
Subjects: Interfaces (Physical sciences), Interfacial bonding, Electron transport, Proton transfer reactions, Surface chemistry, Catalysis
Abstract: The macroscopic functionality of nanoscale systems is fundamentally governed by microscopic physicochemical processes at material interfaces. However, conventional ensemble-averaged characterization techniques often obscure these subtle interfacial nuances due to their inherent limitations in spatial and temporal resolution. This review examines how single-molecule electrical measurements overcome these constraints by acting as precise analytical probes that directly transduce interfacial events into quantifiable conductance signals. By summarizing recent advances, we demonstrate how this approach resolves key physical interfacial characteristics, including distinct bonding motifs, steric configurations, and electronic coupling. We further summarize the real-time chemical interrogation of solid–liquid boundaries, which enables the capture of covalent bond formation kinetics, the dissection of catalytic reaction mechanisms, and the tracking of dynamic ion adsorption and proton transfer. Collectively, these investigations reveal interfaces as active, dynamically responsive physicochemical environments rather than simple passive structural boundaries. Finally, we propose that when employed primarily as high-resolution diagnostic tools rather than standalone electronic components, single-molecule junctions bridge atomic-scale interfacial mechanisms with macroscopic material performance, thereby providing an essential mechanistic foundations for the rational design of functional nanointerfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Nanomaterials (2079-4991) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 194120555
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Precise Probing of Interfaces at the Single-Molecule Scale.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhang%2C+Enyu%22">Zhang, Enyu</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+Zhiping%22">Chen, Zhiping</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Shuai%22">Wang, Shuai</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhao%2C+Cong%22">Zhao, Cong</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ju%2C+Hongyu%22">Ju, Hongyu</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sun%2C+Yingze%22">Sun, Yingze</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jia%2C+Chuancheng%22">Jia, Chuancheng</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<i> jiacc@nankai.edu.cn</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Nanomaterials+%282079-4991%29%22">Nanomaterials (2079-4991)</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 16 Issue 10, p573. 28p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interfaces+%28Physical+sciences%29%22">Interfaces (Physical sciences)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interfacial+bonding%22">Interfacial bonding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electron+transport%22">Electron transport</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Proton+transfer+reactions%22">Proton transfer reactions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Surface+chemistry%22">Surface chemistry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Catalysis%22">Catalysis</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The macroscopic functionality of nanoscale systems is fundamentally governed by microscopic physicochemical processes at material interfaces. However, conventional ensemble-averaged characterization techniques often obscure these subtle interfacial nuances due to their inherent limitations in spatial and temporal resolution. This review examines how single-molecule electrical measurements overcome these constraints by acting as precise analytical probes that directly transduce interfacial events into quantifiable conductance signals. By summarizing recent advances, we demonstrate how this approach resolves key physical interfacial characteristics, including distinct bonding motifs, steric configurations, and electronic coupling. We further summarize the real-time chemical interrogation of solid–liquid boundaries, which enables the capture of covalent bond formation kinetics, the dissection of catalytic reaction mechanisms, and the tracking of dynamic ion adsorption and proton transfer. Collectively, these investigations reveal interfaces as active, dynamically responsive physicochemical environments rather than simple passive structural boundaries. Finally, we propose that when employed primarily as high-resolution diagnostic tools rather than standalone electronic components, single-molecule junctions bridge atomic-scale interfacial mechanisms with macroscopic material performance, thereby providing an essential mechanistic foundations for the rational design of functional nanointerfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Nanomaterials (2079-4991) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=194120555
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/nano16100573
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 28
        StartPage: 573
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Interfaces (Physical sciences)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interfacial bonding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electron transport
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Proton transfer reactions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Surface chemistry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Catalysis
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Precise Probing of Interfaces at the Single-Molecule Scale.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhang, Enyu
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Chen, Zhiping
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wang, Shuai
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Zhao, Cong
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ju, Hongyu
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Sun, Yingze
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jia, Chuancheng
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 15
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 20794991
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 16
            – Type: issue
              Value: 10
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Nanomaterials (2079-4991)
              Type: main
ResultId 1