A critical perspective on molecular electronic junctions: there is plenty of room in the middle

The promise of molecular electronic devices stems from the possibilities offered by the rich electronic structure of organic molecules. The use of molecules as functional components in microelectronic devices has long been envisioned to augment or even replace silicon. However, the understanding of what controls charge transport in these devices involves complexities stemming from numerous variables that are often interactive and exert a controlling influence on transport, confounding the role of the molecular component. This perspective discusses various aspects of molecular electronics, from the initial "vision quests" of single molecule, functional electronic elements, to the molecular tunnel junctions that have been studied and characterized in-depth. Aspects of energy level alignment are discussed in the context of charge transport mechanisms, as are important electronic interactions when molecules are bonded to conducting "contacts". In addition, integration of molecular components with microelectronic processing is considered, as are the prospects for functional, real-world devices.