Single-molecule conductance measurement of self-assembled organic monolayers using scanning tunneling spectroscopy in combination with statistics analysis

► Compared with CP-AFM technique, STS technique avoids the coulomb blockade effect from contact resistance between the tip and molecules due to the tip is away from the molecules. ► The solvent effect on the conductance was removed since the procedure was performed on ambient rather than the dilute solution. ► The conductance of either mono- or bi- functional molecule may be measured, compared with only bifunctional molecules for break junction approach due to the attachment of molecule between two electrodes.