1
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Yasini P, Shepard S, Smeu M, Borguet E. Modulation of Charge Transport through Single Molecules Induced by Solvent-Stabilized Intramolecular Charge Transfer. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:9771-9780. [PMID: 37933172 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c03576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
The modulation of charge transport through single molecules can be established by using the intrinsic characteristics of molecules and the physical properties of their environment. Therefore, the impact of the solvent on the electronic properties of molecules in the junction and their charge transport behavior are of great interest. Here, for the first time, we focused on charge transport through dimethylaminobenzonitrile (DMABN). This molecule shows unique behavior, specifically noticeable electronic structure modulations in bulk solvents, e.g., dual fluorescence in a polar environment. Using the scanning tunneling microscopy break junction (STM-BJ) technique, we find an order of magnitude increase in conductance along with a second conductance value in polar solvents over nonpolar solvents. Inspired by the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) explanation of the famous dual fluorescence of DMABN in polar solvents, we hypothesize stabilization of twisted DMABN molecules in the junction in more polar solvents. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations using density functional theory (DFT) show that DMABN can twist in the junction and have a larger dipole moment compared to planar DMABN junction geometries, supporting the hypothesis. The nonequilibrium Green's function with the DFT approach (NEGF-DFT) is used to calculate the conductance throughout the AIMD trajectory, finding a significant change in the frontier orbitals and transmission function at large internal twisting angles, which can explain the dual conductance in polar solvents in STM-BJ experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Yasini
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Stuart Shepard
- Department of Physics, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Manuel Smeu
- Department of Physics, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Eric Borguet
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
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2
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Cai ZY, Ma ZW, Wu WK, Lin JD, Pei LQ, Wang JZ, Wu TR, Jin S, Wu DY, Tian ZQ. Stereoelectronic Switches of Single-Molecule Junctions through Conformation-Modulated Intramolecular Coupling Approaches. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:9539-9547. [PMID: 37856238 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c02577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Stereoelectronic effects in single-molecule junctions have been widely utilized to achieve a molecular switch, but high-efficiency and reproducible switching remain challenging. Here, we demonstrate that there are three stable intramolecular conformations in the 9,10-diphenyl-9,10-methanoanthracen-11-one (DPMAO) systems due to steric effect. Interestingly, different electronic coupling approaches including weak coupling (through-space), decoupling, and strong coupling (through-bond) between two terminal benzene rings are accomplished in the three stable conformations, respectively. Theoretical calculations show that the molecular conductance of three stable conformations differs by more than 1 order of magnitude. Furthermore, the populations of the three stable conformations are highly dependent on the solvent effect and the external electric field. Therefore, an excellent molecular switch can be achieved using the DPMAO molecule junctions and external stimuli. Our findings reveal that modulating intramolecular electronic coupling approaches may be a useful manner to enable molecular switches with high switching ratios. This opens up a new route for building high-efficiency molecular switches in single-molecular junctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuan-Yun Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Zi-Wei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Kai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian-De Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin-Qi Pei
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Jia-Zheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Tai-Rui Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Shan Jin
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - De-Yin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhong-Qun Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surface, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, People's Republic of China
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3
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Bai X, Li P, Peng W, Chen N, Lin JL, Li Y. Ionogel-Electrode for the Study of Protein Tunnel Junctions under Physiologically Relevant Conditions. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023:e2300663. [PMID: 36965118 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202300663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The study of charge transport through proteins is essential for understanding complicated electrochemical processes in biological activities while the reasons for the coexistence of tunneling and hopping phenomena in protein junctions still remain unclear. In this work, a flexible and conductive ionogel electrode is synthesized and is used as a top contact to form highly reproducible protein junctions. The junctions of proteins, including human serum albumin, cytochrome C and hemoglobin, show temperature-independent electron tunneling characteristics when the junctions are in solid states while with a different mechanism of temperature-dependent electron hopping when junctions are hydrated under physiologically relevant conditions. It is demonstrated that the solvent reorganization energy plays an important role in the electron-hopping process and experimentally shown that it requires ≈100 meV for electron hopping through one heme group inside a hydrated protein molecule connected between two electrodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyue Bai
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering and Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Pengfei Li
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering and Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Wuxian Peng
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering and Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Ningyue Chen
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering and Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Jin-Liang Lin
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering and Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering and Laboratory of Flexible Electronics Technology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
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4
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Ge L, Hou S, Chen Y, Wu Q, Long L, Yang X, Ji Y, Lin L, Xue G, Liu J, Liu X, Lambert CJ, Hong W, Zheng Y. Hydrogen-bond-induced quantum interference in single-molecule junctions of regioisomers. Chem Sci 2022; 13:9552-9559. [PMID: 36091890 PMCID: PMC9400588 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc03229e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Solvents can play a significant role in tuning the electrical conductance of single-molecule junctions. In this respect, protic solvents offer the potential to form hydrogen bonds with molecular backbones and induce electrostatic gating via their dipole moments. Here we demonstrate that the effect of hydrogen bond formation on conductance depends on whether transport through the junction is controlled by destructive quantum interference (DQI) or constructive quantum interference (CQI). Furthermore, we show that a protic solvent can be used to switch the conductance of single-molecule junctions between the two forms of quantum interference. To explore this possibility, two regioisomers (BIT-Zwitterion and BIT-Neutral) were synthesized and their single-molecule conductances in aprotic and protic solvents were investigated using a scanning-tunneling-microscope-based break junction technique, combined with density functional theory and quantum transport theory. We find that the protic solvent twists the geometry of BIT-Zwitterion by introducing intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the solvent and target molecule. Moreover, it increases the energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) of the molecule by imposing different electrostatic gating on the delocalized HOMO and localized LUMO, leading to a lower conductance compared to that in aprotic solvent. In contrast, the conductance of BIT-Neutral increases due to a transformation from DQI to CQI originating from a change from a planar to a folded conformation in the protic solvent. In addition, the stacking between the two folded moieties produces an extra through-space transport path, which further contributes to conductance. This study demonstrates that combinations of protic solvents and regioisomers present a versatile route to controlling quantum interference and therefore single-molecule conductance, by enabling control of hydrogen bond formation, electrostatic gating and through-space transport. We demonstrate that the effect of solvent–molecule interaction through hydrogen bonding on junction conductance depends on whether transport through the junction is controlled by destructive or constructive quantum interference.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingbing Ge
- School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Chengdu 610054, People's Republic of China
| | - Songjun Hou
- Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, UK
| | - Yaorong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingqing Wu
- Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, UK
| | - Lanxin Long
- School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Chengdu 610054, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingzhou Yang
- School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Chengdu 610054, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Ji
- School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Chengdu 610054, People's Republic of China
| | - Luchun Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Guodong Xue
- School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Chengdu 610054, People's Republic of China
| | - Junyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaodong Liu
- School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Chengdu 610054, People's Republic of China
| | - Colin J. Lambert
- Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YB, UK
| | - Wenjing Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonghao Zheng
- School of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC), Chengdu 610054, People's Republic of China
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5
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O'Driscoll LJ, Bryce MR. A review of oligo(arylene ethynylene) derivatives in molecular junctions. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:10668-10711. [PMID: 34110337 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr02023d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Oligo(arylene ethynylene) (OAE) derivatives are the "workhorse" molecules of molecular electronics. Their ease of synthesis and flexibility of functionalisation mean that a diverse array of OAE molecular wires have been designed, synthesised and studied theoretically and experimentally in molecular junctions using both single-molecule and ensemble methods. This review summarises the breadth of molecular designs that have been investigated with emphasis on structure-property relationships with respect to the electronic conductance of OAEs. The factors considered include molecular length, connectivity, conjugation, (anti)aromaticity, heteroatom effects and quantum interference (QI). Growing interest in the thermoelectric properties of OAE derivatives, which are expected to be at the forefront of research into organic thermoelectric devices, is also explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke J O'Driscoll
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Stockton Road, Durham, UKDH1 3LE.
| | - Martin R Bryce
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, Lower Mountjoy, Stockton Road, Durham, UKDH1 3LE.
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6
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Planje IJ, Davidson RJ, Vezzoli A, Daaoub A, Sangtarash S, Sadeghi H, Martín S, Cea P, Lambert CJ, Beeby A, Higgins SJ, Nichols RJ. Selective Anchoring Groups for Molecular Electronic Junctions with ITO Electrodes. ACS Sens 2021; 6:530-537. [PMID: 33471521 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c02205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Indium tin oxide (ITO) is an attractive substrate for single-molecule electronics since it is transparent while maintaining electrical conductivity. Although it has been used before as a contacting electrode in single-molecule electrical studies, these studies have been limited to the use of carboxylic acid terminal groups for binding molecular wires to the ITO substrates. There is thus the need to investigate other anchoring groups with potential for binding effectively to ITO. With this aim, we have investigated the single-molecule conductance of a series of eight tolane or "tolane-like" molecular wires with a variety of surface binding groups. We first used gold-molecule-gold junctions to identify promising targets for ITO selectivity. We then assessed the propensity and selectivity of carboxylic acid, cyanoacrylic acid, and pyridinium-squarate to bind to ITO and promote the formation of molecular heterojunctions. We found that pyridinium squarate zwitterions display excellent selectivity for binding to ITO over gold surfaces, with contact resistivity comparable to that of carboxylic acids. These single-molecule experiments are complemented by surface chemical characterization with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, quartz crystal microbalance, contact angle determination, and nanolithography using an atomic force miscroscope. Finally, we report the first density-functional theory calculations involving ITO electrodes to model charge transport through ITO-molecule-gold heterojunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inco J. Planje
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Ross J. Davidson
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, South Rd, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Vezzoli
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Abdalghani Daaoub
- School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Sangtarash
- School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
- Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, United Kingdom
| | - Hatef Sadeghi
- School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Santiago Martín
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), Universidad de Zaragoza-CSIC, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pilar Cea
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), Universidad de Zaragoza-CSIC, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- Departamento de Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Colin J. Lambert
- Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YW, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Beeby
- Department of Chemistry, Durham University, South Rd, Durham DH1 3LE, United Kingdom
| | - Simon J. Higgins
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Nichols
- Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool L69 7ZD, United Kingdom
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7
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Nováková Lachmanová Š, Kolivoška V, Šebera J, Gasior J, Mészáros G, Dupeyre G, Lainé PP, Hromadová M. Environmental Control of Single-Molecule Junction Evolution and Conductance: A Case Study of Expanded Pyridinium Wiring. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:4732-4739. [PMID: 33205862 PMCID: PMC7986070 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202013882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Environmental control of single-molecule junction evolution and conductance was demonstrated for expanded pyridinium molecules by scanning tunneling microscopy break junction method and interpreted by quantum transport calculations including solvent molecules explicitly. Fully extended and highly conducting molecular junctions prevail in water environment as opposed to short and less conducting junctions formed in non-solvating mesitylene. A theoretical approach correctly models single-molecule conductance values considering the experimental junction length. Most pronounced difference in the molecular junction formation and conductance was identified for a molecule with the highest stabilization energy on the gold substrate confirming the importance of molecule-electrode interactions. Presented concept of tuning conductance through molecule-electrode interactions in the solvent-driven junctions can be used in the development of new molecular electronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Štěpánka Nováková Lachmanová
- Department of Electrochemistry at NanoscaleJ. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesDolejškova 3182 23Prague 8Czech Republic
| | - Viliam Kolivoška
- Department of Electrochemistry at NanoscaleJ. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesDolejškova 3182 23Prague 8Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Šebera
- Department of Electrochemistry at NanoscaleJ. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesDolejškova 3182 23Prague 8Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Gasior
- Department of Electrochemistry at NanoscaleJ. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesDolejškova 3182 23Prague 8Czech Republic
| | - Gábor Mészáros
- Research Centre for Natural SciencesHungarian Academy of SciencesMagyar tudósok krt. 21117BudapestHungary
| | | | | | - Magdaléna Hromadová
- Department of Electrochemistry at NanoscaleJ. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesDolejškova 3182 23Prague 8Czech Republic
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8
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Nováková Lachmanová Š, Kolivoška V, Šebera J, Gasior J, Mészáros G, Dupeyre G, Lainé PP, Hromadová M. Environmental Control of Single‐Molecule Junction Evolution and Conductance: A Case Study of Expanded Pyridinium Wiring. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202013882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Štěpánka Nováková Lachmanová
- Department of Electrochemistry at Nanoscale J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Dolejškova 3 182 23 Prague 8 Czech Republic
| | - Viliam Kolivoška
- Department of Electrochemistry at Nanoscale J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Dolejškova 3 182 23 Prague 8 Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Šebera
- Department of Electrochemistry at Nanoscale J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Dolejškova 3 182 23 Prague 8 Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Gasior
- Department of Electrochemistry at Nanoscale J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Dolejškova 3 182 23 Prague 8 Czech Republic
| | - Gábor Mészáros
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences Hungarian Academy of Sciences Magyar tudósok krt. 2 1117 Budapest Hungary
| | | | | | - Magdaléna Hromadová
- Department of Electrochemistry at Nanoscale J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Dolejškova 3 182 23 Prague 8 Czech Republic
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9
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Chen Y, Huang L, Chen H, Chen Z, Zhang H, Xiao Z, Hong W. Towards Responsive
Single‐Molecule
Device. CHINESE J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/cjoc.202000420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yaorong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Xiamen University Xiamen Fujian 361005 China
| | - Longfeng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Xiamen University Xiamen Fujian 361005 China
| | - Hang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Xiamen University Xiamen Fujian 361005 China
| | - Zhixin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Xiamen University Xiamen Fujian 361005 China
| | - Hewei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Xiamen University Xiamen Fujian 361005 China
| | - Zongyuan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Xiamen University Xiamen Fujian 361005 China
| | - Wenjing Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Xiamen University Xiamen Fujian 361005 China
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10
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Li J, Shen P, Zhen S, Tang C, Ye Y, Zhou D, Hong W, Zhao Z, Tang BZ. Mechanical single-molecule potentiometers with large switching factors from ortho-pentaphenylene foldamers. Nat Commun 2021; 12:167. [PMID: 33420002 PMCID: PMC7794330 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20311-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular potentiometers that can indicate displacement-conductance relationship, and predict and control molecular conductance are of significant importance but rarely developed. Herein, single-molecule potentiometers are designed based on ortho-pentaphenylene. The ortho-pentaphenylene derivatives with anchoring groups adopt multiple folded conformers and undergo conformational interconversion in solutions. Solvent-sensitive multiple conductance originating from different conformers is recorded by scanning tunneling microscopy break junction technique. These pseudo-elastic folded molecules can be stretched and compressed by mechanical force along with a variable conductance by up to two orders of magnitude, providing an impressively higher switching factor (114) than the reported values (ca. 1~25). The multichannel conductance governed by through-space and through-bond conducting pathways is rationalized as the charge transport mechanism for the folded ortho-pentaphenylene derivatives. These findings shed light on exploring robust single-molecule potentiometers based on helical structures, and are conducive to fundamental understanding of charge transport in higher-order helical molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinshi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, South China University of Technology, 510640, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pingchuan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, South China University of Technology, 510640, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shijie Zhen
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, South China University of Technology, 510640, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Yiling Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Dahai Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China
| | - Wenjing Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, China.
| | - Zujin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, South China University of Technology, 510640, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Ben Zhong Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, South China University of Technology, 510640, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
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