Insulator-protected mechanically controlled break junctions for measuring single-molecule conductance in aqueous environments

We present a method to fabricate insulated gold mechanically controlled break junctions (MCBJ) by coating the metal with a thin layer of aluminum oxide using plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition. The Al₂O₃ thickness deposited on the MCBJ devices was varied from 2 to 15 nm to test the suppression of leakage currents in...