Controlling Charge Transport in Molecular Wires through Transannular π–π Interaction

Abstract

This paper describes the influence of the transannular π–π interaction in controlling the carrier transport in molecular wires by employing the STM break junction technique. Five pentaphenylene-based molecular wires that contained [2.2]paracyclophane-1,9-dienes (PCD) as the building block were prepared as model compounds. Functional substituents with different electronic properties, ranging from strong acceptors to strong donors, were attached to the top parallel aromatic ring and used as a gate. It was found that the carrier transport features of these molecular wires, such as single-molecule conductance and a charge-tunneling barrier, can be systematically controlled through the transannular π–π interaction.

Advanced Science and Technology of Polymer Matrix Nanomaterials

“…Zhu et al [28] successfully synthesized a series of molecular wires based on [2.2]paracyclophane-1,9-dienes and then elucidated the influence of transannular π-π interaction on carrier transport in these wires using the STM break junction technique. Both the currentvoltage characteristics and single-molecule conductance could be systematically adjusted through the transannular π-π interaction.…”