Formation of a Current Through Organic Molecules with Strongly Separated Energy Levels

Abstract

A theoretical description of the current formation in a device “source-molecule-drain” (SMD) is carried out for a special type of molecules with strongly separated energy levels. Owing to charge molecule-electrodes hoppings, the vacant molecular levels are populated by the transferred electrons, so that a molecule is kinetically charged. The theoretical explanation of the current-voltage characteristics of a molecule (Bu₂ N φV)₂ BuPy⁺I⁻ is carried out, and it is shown that the rectification effect appears due to the asymmetric voltage drop across the molecule, as well as asymmetric molecular charging.

Keywords:

• electron transfer
• kinetic charging
• rectification
• single molecule

PACS Numbers:

• 34.70. + e
• 72.10.-d
• 82.20.Mj

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by the NASU program on Fundamental Researches.