Determination of performance on tunnel conduction through molecular wire using a conductive atomic force microscope

Performance of nonresonant tunnel conduction through a self-assembled monol ayer of conjugated molecules fabricated on gold (111) was determined by vir tue of nanometer-scale electrical probe measurement using a conductive atom ic force microscope. Electrical measurements with nanometer spatial resolut ion enabled mapping of tunnel current as well as efficiency of tunnel condu ction through molecular wire by analyzing length dependence on current. A s eries of conjugated molecules with different numbers of oligothiophene ring s proved to possess a high tunnel-conduction efficiency. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.