  Using a break junction technique, we find a clear signature for the formation
of conducting hybrid junctions composed of a single organic molecule (benzene,
naphthalene or anthracene) connected to chains of platinum atoms. The hybrid
junctions exhibit metallic-like conductance (~0.1-1G0), which is rather
insensitive to further elongation by additional atoms. At low bias voltage the
hybrid junctions can be elongated significantly beyond the length of the bare
atomic chains. Ab initio calculations reveal that benzene based hybrid
junctions have a significant binding energy and high structural flexibility
that may contribute to the survival of the hybrid junction during the
elongation process. The fabrication of hybrid junctions opens the way for
combining the different properties of atomic chains and organic molecules to
realize a new class of atomic scale interfaces.

Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics;Chemical Physics