SPM measurements of electric properties of organic molecules

Abstract

In 1994, individual molecules in alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were imaged using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Since this breakthrough, the electric conduction of individual molecules has been estimated using scanning probe methods. In this chapter, we describe methods for evaluating the electric properties of conjugated molecules embedded in alkanethiol SAMs. First, the electrical conduction and barrier height measurements of SAMs and single molecules using STM are described. Here we discuss a method for estimating the molecular resistance based upon analysis of STM cross-sectional profiles. Secondly, the electrical conduction measurements of SAMs using conductive probe AFM (CP-AFM) are described. Finally, we describe related methods that enable applications like molecular devices. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.