1
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Gupta R, Fereiro JA, Bayat A, Pritam A, Zharnikov M, Mondal PC. Nanoscale molecular rectifiers. Nat Rev Chem 2023; 7:106-122. [PMID: 37117915 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-022-00457-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The use of molecules bridged between two electrodes as a stable rectifier is an important goal in molecular electronics. Until recently, however, and despite extensive experimental and theoretical work, many aspects of our fundamental understanding and practical challenges have remained unresolved and prevented the realization of such devices. Recent advances in custom-designed molecular systems with rectification ratios exceeding 105 have now made these systems potentially competitive with existing silicon-based devices. Here, we provide an overview and critical analysis of recent progress in molecular rectification within single molecules, self-assembled monolayers, molecular multilayers, heterostructures, and metal-organic frameworks and coordination polymers. Examples of conceptually important and best-performing systems are discussed, alongside their rectification mechanisms. We present an outlook for the field, as well as prospects for the commercialization of molecular rectifiers.
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2
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Khalid H, Opodi EM, Song X, Wang Z, Li B, Tian L, Yu X, Hu W. Modulated Structure and Rectification Properties of a Molecular Junction by a Mixed Self-Assembled Monolayer. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:10893-10901. [PMID: 36007164 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c01751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The organization of the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) determines its electronic structure and so governs the charge transport process and device performance when adopted into a molecular device. We report a systematic study on the supramolecular structure and rectification performance of the ferrocene (11-ferrocenyl-1-undecanethiol, FUT) based SAM modulated by mixed SAM with inert 1-undecanethiol (C11SH) as diluent. We compared mixed SAMs by two different post assembly strategies, i.e., post assembly of C11SH on FUT SAM and post assembly of FUT on C11SH SAM. The organization and structure of FUT in the mixed SAM were extensively studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) using the Laviron model. Rectification properties of the mixed SAM obtained using eutectic indium gallium (EGaIn) as the top electrode revealed that the magnitude and stability of the rectification ratio (RR) strongly correlated to not only the amount but also the phase structure and orientation of the FUT in the monolayer, resulting in a tunable RR and increased stability. The mixed monolayer achieved an increased performance relative to pure FUT by post assembling FUT on C11SH SAM, which formed an optimally dense and well-packed monolayer with the FUT head resting on the top of the alkane SAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hira Khalid
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Science, School of Science, Tianjin University & Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Esther Martine Opodi
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Science, School of Science, Tianjin University & Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xianneng Song
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Science, School of Science, Tianjin University & Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Ziyan Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Science, School of Science, Tianjin University & Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Baili Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Science, School of Science, Tianjin University & Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Lixian Tian
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Science, School of Science, Tianjin University & Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xi Yu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Science, School of Science, Tianjin University & Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Wenping Hu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Science, School of Science, Tianjin University & Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
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3
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Carlotti M, Soni S, Kovalchuk A, Kumar S, Hofmann S, Chiechi RC. Empirical Parameter to Compare Molecule-Electrode Interfaces in Large-Area Molecular Junctions. ACS PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY AU 2022; 2:179-190. [PMID: 35637782 PMCID: PMC9136952 DOI: 10.1021/acsphyschemau.1c00029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
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This paper describes
a simple model for comparing the degree of
electronic coupling between molecules and electrodes across different
large-area molecular junctions. The resulting coupling parameter can
be obtained directly from current–voltage data or extracted
from published data without fitting. We demonstrate the generalizability
of this model by comparing over 40 different junctions comprising
different molecules and measured by different laboratories. The results
agree with existing models, reflect differences in mechanisms of charge
transport and rectification, and are predictive in cases where experimental
limitations preclude more sophisticated modeling. We also synthesized
a series of conjugated molecular wires, in which embedded dipoles
are varied systematically and at both molecule–electrode interfaces.
The resulting current–voltage characteristics vary in nonintuitive
ways that are not captured by existing models, but which produce trends
using our simple model, providing insights that are otherwise difficult
or impossible to explain. The utility of our model is its demonstrative
generalizability, which is why simple observables like tunneling decay
coefficients remain so widely used in molecular electronics despite
the existence of much more sophisticated models. Our model is complementary,
giving insights into molecule–electrode coupling across series
of molecules that can guide synthetic chemists in the design of new
molecular motifs, particularly in the context of devices comprising
large-area molecular junctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Carlotti
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Saurabh Soni
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andrii Kovalchuk
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sumit Kumar
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0FA, U.K
| | - Stephan Hofmann
- Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0FA, U.K
| | - Ryan C Chiechi
- Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
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Tian L, Martine E, Yu X, Hu W. Amine-Anchored Aromatic Self-Assembled Monolayer Junction: Structure and Electric Transport Properties. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:12223-12233. [PMID: 34606290 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We studied the structure and transport properties of aromatic amine self-assembled monolayers (NH2-SAMs) on an Au surface. The oligophenylene and oligoacene amines with variable lengths can form a densely packed and uniform monolayer under proper assembly conditions. Molecular junctions incorporating an eutectic Ga-In (EGaIn) top electrode were used to characterize the charge transport properties of the amine monolayer. The current density J of the junction decreases exponentially with the molecular length (d), as J = J0 exp(-βd), which is a sign of tunneling transport, with indistinguishable values of J0 and β for NH2-SAMs of oligophenylene and oligoacene, indicating a similar molecule-electrode contact and tunneling barrier for two groups of molecules. Compared with the oligophenylene and oligoacene molecules with thiol (SH) as the anchor group, a similar β value (∼0.35 Å-1) of the aromatic NH2-SAM suggests a similar tunneling barrier, while a lower (by 2 orders of magnitude) injection current J0 is attributed to lower electronic coupling Γ of the amine group with the electrode. These observations are further supported by single-level tunneling model fitting. Our study here demonstrates the NH2-SAMs can work as an effective active layer for molecular junctions, and provide key physical parameters for the charge transport, paving the road for their applications in functional devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixian Tian
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Science, School of Science, Tianjin University & Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Esther Martine
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Science, School of Science, Tianjin University & Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xi Yu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Science, School of Science, Tianjin University & Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Wenping Hu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Optoelectronic Science, School of Science, Tianjin University & Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China
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5
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Han Y, Nickle C, Maglione MS, Karuppannan SK, Casado‐Montenegro J, Qi D, Chen X, Tadich A, Cowie B, Mas‐Torrent M, Rovira C, Cornil J, Veciana J, del Barco E, Nijhuis CA. Bias-Polarity-Dependent Direct and Inverted Marcus Charge Transport Affecting Rectification in a Redox-Active Molecular Junction. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2100055. [PMID: 34145786 PMCID: PMC8292891 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202100055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes the transition from the normal to inverted Marcus region in solid-state tunnel junctions consisting of self-assembled monolayers of benzotetrathiafulvalene (BTTF), and how this transition determines the performance of a molecular diode. Temperature-dependent normalized differential conductance analyses indicate the participation of the HOMO (highest occupied molecular orbital) at large negative bias, which follows typical thermally activated hopping behavior associated with the normal Marcus regime. In contrast, hopping involving the HOMO dominates the mechanism of charge transport at positive bias, yet it is nearly activationless indicating the junction operates in the inverted Marcus region. Thus, within the same junction it is possible to switch between Marcus and inverted Marcus regimes by changing the bias polarity. Consequently, the current only decreases with decreasing temperature at negative bias when hopping is "frozen out," but not at positive bias resulting in a 30-fold increase in the molecular rectification efficiency. These results indicate that the charge transport in the inverted Marcus region is readily accessible in junctions with redox molecules in the weak coupling regime and control over different hopping regimes can be used to improve junction performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingmei Han
- Department of ChemistryNational University of Singapore3 Science Drive 3Singapore117543Singapore
| | - Cameron Nickle
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of Central FloridaOrlandoFL32816USA
| | - Maria Serena Maglione
- Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB‐CSIC)/CIBER‐BBNCampus de la UABBellaterra08193Spain
| | | | - Javier Casado‐Montenegro
- Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB‐CSIC)/CIBER‐BBNCampus de la UABBellaterra08193Spain
| | - Dong‐Chen Qi
- Centre for Materials ScienceSchool of Chemistry and PhysicsQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQueensland4001Australia
| | - Xiaoping Chen
- Department of ChemistryNational University of Singapore3 Science Drive 3Singapore117543Singapore
| | - Anton Tadich
- Australian Synchrotron ClaytonVictoria3168Australia
| | - Bruce Cowie
- Australian Synchrotron ClaytonVictoria3168Australia
| | - Marta Mas‐Torrent
- Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB‐CSIC)/CIBER‐BBNCampus de la UABBellaterra08193Spain
| | - Concepció Rovira
- Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB‐CSIC)/CIBER‐BBNCampus de la UABBellaterra08193Spain
| | - Jérôme Cornil
- Laboratory for Chemistry of Novel MaterialsUniversity of MonsPlace du Parc 20MonsB‐7000Belgium
| | - Jaume Veciana
- Institut de Ciència de Materials de Barcelona (ICMAB‐CSIC)/CIBER‐BBNCampus de la UABBellaterra08193Spain
| | | | - Christian A. Nijhuis
- Department of ChemistryNational University of Singapore3 Science Drive 3Singapore117543Singapore
- Centre for Advanced 2D Materials and Graphene Research CenterNational University of Singapore6 Science Drive 2Singapore117546Singapore
- Hybrid Materials for Opto‐Electronics GroupDepartment of Molecules and MaterialsMESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Center for Brain‐Inspired Nano SystemsFaculty of Science and TechnologyUniversity of TwenteP.O. Box 217EnschedeAE 7500The Netherlands
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6
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Li Y, Root SE, Belding L, Park J, Rawson J, Yoon HJ, Baghbanzadeh M, Rothemund P, Whitesides GM. Characterizing Chelation at Surfaces by Charge Tunneling. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:5967-5977. [PMID: 33834784 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c01800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This paper describes a surface analysis technique that uses the "EGaIn junction" to measure tunneling current densities (J(V), amps/cm2) through self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) terminated in a chelating group and incorporating different transition metal ions. Comparisons of J(V) measurements between bare chelating groups and chelates are used to characterize the composition of the SAM and infer the dissociation constant (Kd, mol/L), as well as kinetic rate constants (koff, L/mol·s; kon, 1/s) of the reversible chelate-metal reaction. To demonstrate the concept, SAMs of 11-(4-methyl-2,2'-bipyrid-4'-yl (bpy))undecanethiol (HS(CH2)11bpy) were incubated within ethanol solutions of metal salts. After rinsing and drying the surface, measurements of current as a function of incubation time and concentration in solution are used to infer koff, kon, and Kd. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) provides an independent measure of surface composition to confirm inferences from J(V) measurements. Our experiments establish that (i) bound metal ions are stable to the rinsing step as long as the rinsing time, τrinse ≪ 1koff; (ii) the bound metal ions increase the current density at the negative bias and reduce the rectification observed with free bpy terminal groups; (iii) the current density as a function of the concentration of metal ions in solution follows a sigmoidal curve; and (iv) the values of Kd measured using J(V) are comparable to those measured using XPS, but larger than those measured in solution. The EGaIn junction, thus, provides a new tool for the analysis of the composition of the surfaces that undergo reversible chemical reactions with species in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Li
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China
| | - Samuel E Root
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Lee Belding
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Junwoo Park
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Jeff Rawson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Hyo Jae Yoon
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Mostafa Baghbanzadeh
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Philipp Rothemund
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.,John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - George M Whitesides
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
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7
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Kang S, Byeon SE, Yoon HJ. N
‐Heterocyclic
Carbene Anchors in Electronics Applications. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/bkcs.12261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seohyun Kang
- Department of Chemistry Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Seo Eun Byeon
- Department of Chemistry Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Jae Yoon
- Department of Chemistry Korea University Seoul 02841 Republic of Korea
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