Kamerlingh Onnes Laboratory
Leiden University, the Netherlands
Based on a review paper [1] that we will soon submit, I will present an overview of the status of research into the properties of single-molecule junctions.
The advantage of experiments on molecular junctions is that the properties of the molecule can be exactly designed by chemical synthesis, and many interesting physical effects can be studied. I will introduce the experimental tools that are used for the investigations, the theoretical concepts and special phenomena that can be uncovered by stuy of molecular junctions. I will critically evaluate the quantitative agreement between experiment and theory, and discuss paths for improvement. I will conclude with a few open problems and perspectives for further research.
[1] S. Tewari, R. Korytár, F. Evers, and J.M. van Ruitenbeek, Advances and challenges in single-molecule electron transport, in preparation.