Redox-gated electron transport in electrically wired ferrocene molecules

We have synthesized cysteamine-terminated ferrocene molecules and determined the dependence of the electron transport properties of the molecules on their redox states by measuring the current through the molecules as a function of the electrode potential. The current fluctuates over a large range, but its average value increases with the potential. We attribute the current fluctuation and its increase with the potential to the switching of the molecules from low-conductance reduced state to high-conductance oxidized state.