Rectification effects in coherent transport through single molecules

A minimal model for coherent transport through a donor/acceptor molecular junction is presented. The two donor and acceptor sites are described by single levels energetically separated by an intramolecular tunnel barrier. In the limit of strong coupling to the electrodes a current rectification for different bias voltage polarities occurs. Contacts with recent experiments of molecular rectification are also given.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Quantum transport through STM-lifted single PTCDA molecules

Using a scanning tunneling microscope we have measured the quantum conductance through a PTCDA molecule for different configurations of the tip-molecule-surface junction. A peculiar conductance resonance arises at the Fermi level for certain tip to surface distances. We have relaxed the molecular junction coordinates and calculated transport by means of the Landauer/Keldysh approach. The zero bias transmission calculated for fixed tip positions in lateral dimensions but different tip substrate distances show a clear shift and sharpening of the molecular chemisorption level on increasing the STM-surface distance, in agreement with experiment.Comment: accepted for publication in Applied Physics

Abstract

Rectification effects in coherent transport through single molecule