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Effect of Ring Strain on the Charge Transport of a Robust Norbornadiene–Quadricyclane-Based Molecular Photoswitch

[Image: see text] Integrating functional molecules into single-molecule devices is a key step toward the realization of future computing machines based on the smallest possible components. In this context, photoswitching molecules that can make a transition between high and low conductivity in respo...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Tebikachew, Behabitu E., Li, Haipeng B., Pirrotta, Alessandro, Börjesson, Karl, Solomon, Gemma C., Hihath, Joshua, Moth-Poulsen, Kasper
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: American Chemical Society 2017
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5385524/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28408968
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b00319
Descripción
Sumario:[Image: see text] Integrating functional molecules into single-molecule devices is a key step toward the realization of future computing machines based on the smallest possible components. In this context, photoswitching molecules that can make a transition between high and low conductivity in response to light are attractive candidates. Here we present the synthesis and conductance properties of a new type of robust molecular photothermal switch based on the norbornadiene (NB)–quadricyclane (QC) system. The transport through the molecule in the ON state is dominated by a pathway through the π-conjugated system, which is no longer available when the system is switched to the OFF state. Interestingly, in the OFF state we find that the same pathway contributes only 12% to the transport properties. We attribute this observation to the strained tetrahedral geometry of the QC. These results challenge the prevailing assumption that current will simply flow through the shortest through-bond path in a molecule.