Electrical transport characteristics through molecular layers

In the past few decades, considerable progress has been made in the field of molecular electronics toward our understanding of charge transport processes and the development of experimental methods. This feature article presents a summary of various experimental characterisation platform testbeds for metal-molecule-metal junctions using self-assembled monolayer molecules. Important results from these techniques are highlighted here. A review of the mechanism of electronic transport through molecular layers is presented. Furthermore, the prospects and advanced architectures for the further development of molecular electronics are presented. These opportunities may contribute to the realisation of practical applications for molecular electronic devices.