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

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.