Negative differential conductance and hysteretic current switching of benzene molecular junction in a transverse electric field

Nanotechnology. 2014 Nov 21;25(46):465202. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/25/46/465202. Epub 2014 Oct 30.

Abstract

We study charge transport through single benzene molecular junction (BMJ) directly sandwiched between two platinum electrodes by using a tight-binding model and the non-equilibrium Green's function approach. Pronounced negative differential conductance is observed at finite bias voltage, resulting from charge redistribution in BMJ and a Coulomb blockade effect at the interface of molecule-electrode contacts. In the presence of a transverse electric field, hysteretic switching behavior and large spin-polarization of current are obtained, indicating the potential application of BMJ for acting as a nanoscale current modulator or spintronic molecular device.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't