Nonlinear Electron Current through a Short Molecular Wire

The voltage and temperature behaviour of inelastic inter-electrode current mediated by a short molecular wire is analyzed within a nonlinear kinetic model that statistically accounts for strong Coulomb repulsion between transferring electrons. The resulting physics predicts a generally nonlinear current-voltage characteristic which saturates for fixed temperature at large voltages, while blocking transport when strong Coulomb inhibition is effective. An Ohmic behavior emerges at small voltages independent whether Coulomb inhibitition is active or not. At fixed voltage the current response exhibits a bellshaped, resonance-like behaviour vs. temperature.