We present low-temperature electron transport measurements of individual phenylene–ethynylene molecular wires, connected to nanometer-spaced gold electrodes. Low-bias current–voltage characteristics measured at are stable and show irregular steps. After application of a large voltage, the low-bias curves switch between different stable configurations, some of which show negative differential resistance (NDR). Similar behavior, including the NDR, has been observed in molecules irrespective of whether they contain a side group or not. We suggest that different curves measured, including the NDR, could be due either to conformational changes in the molecules or a change in coupling of the molecular junction.
© 2004 American Institute of Physics.
2004
American Institute of Physics
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