Single- and Multigrain Nanojunctions with a Self-Assembled Monolayer of Conjugated Molecules

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Systematic conductivity measurements in nanoscale junctions containing a self-assembled monolayer of conjugated molecules are reported. Different conductivity mechanisms are identified depending on the granularity of the metal used as a substrate for assembling the monolayer. Unexpectedly, the energy scale controlling the dominant conductance channels is quite low in comparison with the molecular level spacing. In single-grain junctions, the dominant conductance mechanism is hopping with an energy scale of the order of 10–100 meV determined by the nature of the metal contacts. In the case of multigrain junctions, additional tunnel conductance is observed with low-energy Coulomb-blockade features.