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Science 10 October 1997:
Vol. 278. no. 5336, pp. 252 - 254
DOI: 10.1126/science.278.5336.252
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Reports

Conductance of a Molecular Junction

M. A. Reed, * C. Zhou, C. J. Muller, T. P. Burgin, J. M. Tour *

Molecules of benzene-1,4-dithiol were self-assembled onto the two facing gold electrodes of a mechanically controllable break junction to form a statically stable gold-sulfur-aryl-sulfur-gold system, allowing for direct observation of charge transport through the molecules. Current-voltage measurements at room temperature demonstrated a highly reproducible apparent gap at about 0.7 volt, and the conductance-voltage curve showed two steps in both bias directions. This study provides a quantative measure of the conductance of a junction containing a single molecule, which is a fundamental step in the emerging area of molecular-scale electronics.

M. A. Reed, C. Zhou, C. J. Muller, Department of Electrical Engineering, Yale University, Post Office Box 208284, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
T. P. Burgin and J. M. Tour, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed.

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