This work examines the influence of the conformation of molecules within a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on the rate of charge tunneling through the monolayer. Ordered and disordered self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) made from molecules of the general form S-(CH2)2-CON(R1)(R2), where R1 and R2 are alkyl chains or hydrogen atoms. We find that i) small conformational differences in molecular geometry do not influence the rate of charge tunneling, ii) disorder in SAMs influences the rate of charge tunneling by changing the point of contact between the top electrode and the molecule, and ii) the number of atoms in the backbone of the molecules, and not simply the thickness of the monolayer, defines the width of the tunneling barrier.

Charge tunneling through intentionally conformationally disordered self-assembled monolayers

256th National Meeting (2018)

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