Comparison of Electronic Transport Characterization Methods for Alkanethiol Self-Assembled Monolayers

Abstract

Room-temperature charge transport is investigated for various-length alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers using three different characterization methods, in which lateral areas span from the nanometer to the micrometer scale. In each method, the measured current−voltage characteristics are analyzed with metal−insulator−metal tunneling models. Transport parameters are determined where possible and compared across methods, as well as to previously reported values. Advantages and limitations of each method for characterizing molecular junctions are highlighted.