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Molecular electronics based on self-assembled monolayers

Since the first measurement of electron tunneling through an organic monolayer in 1971,(Mann and Kuhn, 1971) and the gedanken experiment of a molecular current rectifying diode in 1974,(Aviram and Ratner, 1974) molecular-scale electronics have attracted a growing interest, both for basic science at the nanoscale and for possible applications in nano-electronics. In the first case, molecules are quantum object by nature and their properties can be tailored by chemistry opening avenues for new experiments. In the second case, molecule-based devices are envisioned to complement silicon devices by providing new functions or already existing functions at a simpler process level and at a lower cost by virtue of their self-organization capabilities, moreover, they are not bound to von Neuman architecture and this may open the way to other architectural paradigms. After a brief overview of the nanofabrication of molecular devices, we review in this chapter, the electronic properties of several basic devices, from simple molecules such as molecular tunnel junctions and molecular wires, to more complex ones such as molecular rectifying diodes, molecular switches and memories.