Electronic excitations of a single molecule contacted in a three-terminal configuration

Abstract

Low-temperature three-terminal transport measurements through a thiol end-capped Pi -conjugated molecule have been carried out. Electronic excitations, including zero and finite-bias Kondo-effects have been observed and studied as a function of magnetic field. Using a simplified two-orbital model we have accounted for the spin and the electronic configuration of the first four charge states of the molecule. The charge-dependent couplings to gate, source and drain electrodes suggest a scenario in which charges and spins are localized at the ends of the molecule, close to the electrodes.