Measuring Single Molecule Conductance by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Break – Junction Method

One of the valuable capabilities of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is measuring single molecule conductance. For this purpose, a molecular junction should be created between an electrode (gold STM tip) and a molecule with a suitable functional group for creating junction (such as thiol groups). The conductance is measured in a controlled environment under the certain potential. One of the substantial challenges of this technique is making junctions repeatedly. Developing this method will play an important role in improvement of molecular electronics field. In this paper, theoretical and practical principles of measuring single molecule conductance are studied.