Molecular nanowires and their properties as electrical conductors

This article describes the properties of molecular nanowires as electrical conductors. It begins by defining a molecular nanowire and describing a specific example of a molecular nanowire, along with the concept of molecular nanowire self-assembly. It then considers how molecular nanowires are realized in the laboratory as well as the relationships between these methodologies, the systems that are produced and some experiments being performed on them. It also looks at the different kinds of molecules, electrodes and linkers out of which molecular nanowires are being or may be constructed; the Landauer approach to electrical conduction in molecular nanowires; the principles and limitations of ab-initio and semi-empirical modelling of molecular nanowires in the context of electrical conduction; and four specific experimental systems and the extent to which their observed behavior has been understood theoretically. The article concludes with a summary of key issues for the future development of the field.