Electronic transparence of a single C60 molecule

Abstract

We report the first study of electrical contact with an individual molecule (C60). Using a scanning tunneling microscope tip, the electrical current I flowing as a function of tip displacement s towards the molecule is investigated [Is characteristics]. The tunneling current increases approximately exponentially with tip displacement in the tunnel regime, but this behavior changes significantly as contact is established. From the Is data and calculations for C60 we determine an apparent electrical resistance of 54.80 M for the junction at tip contact. In the Landauer formalism, this value is a measurement of the electronic transparence 2.35×10-4 of the molecule under the tip. © 1995 The American Physical Society.