This book provides a comprehensive overview of the rapidly developing field of molecular electronics. It focuses on our present understanding of the electrical conduction in single-molecule circuits and provides a thorough introduction to the experimental techniques and theoretical concepts. It will also constitute as the first textbook-like introduction to both the experiment and theory of electronic transport through single atoms and molecules. In this sense, this publication will prove invaluable to both researchers and students interested in the field of nanoelectronics and nanoscience in general. Molecular Electronics is self-contained and unified in its presentation. It may be used as a textbook on nanoelectronics by graduate students and advanced undergraduates studying physics and chemistry. In addition, included are previously unpublished material that will help researchers gain a deeper understanding into the basic concepts involved in the field of molecular electronics.

Single-molecule electronics has evolved as a vibrant research field during the last two decades. The vision is to be able to create electronic components at the highest level of miniaturization-the single molecule. This book compiles and details cutting-edge research with contributions from chemists, physicists, theoreticians, and engineers. It cov

This book presents a multidisciplinary approach to single-molecule electronics. It includes a complete overview of the field, from the synthesis and design of molecular candidates to the prevalent experimental techniques, complemented by a detailed theoretical description. This all-inclusive strategy provides the reader with the much-needed perspective to fully understand the far-reaching ramifications of single-molecule electronics. In addition, a number of state-of-the-art topics are discussed, including single-molecule spectro-electrical methods, electrochemical DNA sequencing technology, and single-molecule chemical reactions. As a result of this integrative effort, this publication may be used as an introductory textbook to both graduate and advanced undergraduate students, as well as researchers with interests in single-molecule electronics, organic electronics, surface science, and nanoscience.

This book draws on the main themes covered during the International Workshop on Molecular Architectonics which took place in Shiretoko, Japan from August 3 to 6, 2015. The concepts and results explored in this book relate to the term “molecular architectonics” which stands for electronic, optical and information-processing functions being orchestrated by molecular assemblies. This area is defined as the third stage of single-molecule electronics and builds on stage one, where measurements were performed on single-molecule layered films, and stage two, the resulting quantitative analyses. In this work, experts come together to write about the most important aspects of molecular architectonics. This interdisciplinary, visionary and unique book is of interest to scientists working on electronic materials, surface science and information processing sciences using noise and fluctuation.

Carbon based pi-conjugated materials offer a broad range of applications, going from molecular electronics and single molecule devices to nanotechnology, plastic electronics and optoelectronics. The proper physical description of such materials is in between that of molecular solids and that of low-dimensional covalent semiconductors. This book is a comprehensive review of their elementary excitations processes and dynamics, which merges the two viewpoints, sometimes very different if not contrasting. In each chapter, a broad tutorial introduction provides a solid physical background to the topic, which is further discussed based on recent experimental results obtained via state-of-the-art techniques. Both the molecular, intra-chain character and the solid state, inter-molecular physics is addressed. Reports on single molecule and single polymer chain spectroscopy introduce the on-site phenomena. Several chapters are dedicated to nano-probes, steady state and transient spectroscopies. The highly ordered state, occurring in single crystals, is also discussed thoroughly. Finally, less conventional tools such as THz spectroscopy are discussed in detail. The book provides a useful introduction to the field for newcomers, and a valid reference for experienced researchers in the field.

The series Topics in Current Chemistry Collections presents critical reviews from the journal Topics in Current Chemistry organized in topical volumes. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience. Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field.

Molecular electronics is an emerging field that makes it possible to build electronic devices with single molecules as their active element. The conductivity of single molecules can be manipulated to perform functions similar to present-day bulk electronic devices. These single molecules, with a size of few nano-meters, can be designed and chemically synthesized with tailored electronic structures. This thesis focuses on the design, fabrication and measurement of nanogap electronic devices. The enabling device to study the conductivity of dimetal paddlewheel inorganic complexes, using electrode pairs with nanometer separation is fabricated. A study of these inorganic complexes would provide more versatile opportunities for tailoring electron transport properties. The molecular complex and its electron transport mechanism are discussed and a detailed description of the fabrication of the nano-gap electrode with a controlled gap size is provided. Electron beam lithography fabrication techniques are discussed in detail. A reliable method to fabricate a controlled nanogap with electrodeposition and electromigration is demonstrated. The results of I-V curves of gaps are used to estimate the nanogap dimensions via comparison to tunneling current theory.