Platinum and Benzene Create Superior Molecular Heat Highways

The relentless miniaturisation of electronic devices creates a major challenge: excess heat that can degrade components. A potential solution lies in 'single-molecule electronics', using individual molecules as tiny circuit parts. But for this to work, we must understand how these components handle heat.

New computer simulations have explored this very problem, modelling heat transport through molecular junctions—a molecule connected between two tiny metal electrodes. The study compared benzene and biphenyl molecules attached to either gold or platinum leads. The results indicate a process called 'ballistic heat transport', where thermal energy flows through the molecule without scattering.

Crucially, the choice of materials matters immensely. The simulations showed that junctions with platinum leads had a greater thermal conductivity than those with gold. Furthermore, the smaller benzene molecule outperformed the larger biphenyl molecule. Researchers attribute platinum's superior performance to its unique low-frequency vibrational modes and atomic structure, offering a promising direction for designing cooler nano-electronics.