New Tools for Molecular Electronics

Summary form only given. In order for molecular electronics to become a viable technology a number of fundamental scientific issues need to be addressed. This paper discusses results obtained from an experimentally simple crossed-wire tunnel junction, which enables us to interrogate how different factors influence the current-voltage characteristics of metal-molecule-metal junctions. Specifically discussed is how we are using inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy to understand the mechanism underlying molecular switches as presented in A. Szuchmacher Blum et al. (2005). Additionally describes magnetic directed-assembly procedure for fabricating molecular junctions on the wafer level as stated in D. P. Long et al. (2005)