Inelastic Effects in the Electron Transport Through Molecular Junctions: A Brief Overview

Currently, molecular tunnel junctions are recognized as important active elements of various nanodevices. This gives a strong motivation to study physical mechanisms controlling electron transport through molecules. Electron motion through a molecular bridge is always affected by the environment, and the interactions with the environment could change the energy of the travelling electron. Under certain conditions these inelastic effects may significantly modify transport characteristics. In the present work we describe inelastic and dissipative effects in the electron transport occurring due to the molecular bridge vibrations and stochastic thermally activated ion motions. We intentionally use simple models and computational techniques to keep a reader focused on the physics of inelastic electron transport in molecular tunnel junctions.