Investigation on Single-Molecule Junctions Based on Current⁻Voltage Characteristics

• Published in: Micromachines (Basel) Vol. 9; no. 2; p. 67
• Main Authors: Isshiki, Yuji, Matsuzawa, Yuya, Fujii, Shintaro, Kiguchi, Manabu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 02-02-2018; MDPI
• Subjects: atomic and electronic structure; Coupling (molecular); Current voltage characteristics; Electron states; Electronic structure; Molecular structure; Review; single-molecule junction; spin state; vibrational mode; vibrational mode; atomic and electronic structure; single-molecule junction; spin state; current–voltage characteristics
• ISSN: 2072-666X; 2072-666X
• DOI: 10.3390/mi9020067

The relationship between the current through an electronic device and the voltage across its terminals is a current⁻voltage characteristic (
⁻
) that determine basic device performance. Currently,
⁻
measurement on a single-molecule scale can be performed using break junction technique, where a single molecule junction can be prepared by trapping a single molecule into a nanogap between metal electrodes. The single-molecule
⁻
s provide not only the device performance, but also reflect information on energy dispersion of the electronic state and the electron-molecular vibration coupling in the junction. This mini review focuses on recent representative studies on
⁻
s of the single molecule junctions that cover investigation on the single-molecule diode property, the molecular vibration, and the electronic structure as a form of transmission probability, and electronic density of states, including the spin state of the single-molecule junctions. In addition, thermoelectronic measurements based on
⁻
s and identification of the charged carriers (i.e., electrons or holes) are presented. The analysis in the single-molecule
⁻
s provides fundamental and essential information for a better understanding of the single-molecule science, and puts the single molecule junction to more practical use in molecular devices.