Large area arrays of discrete single-molecule junctions derived from host–guest complexes

Escorihuela, Enrique (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Barrio, Jesús del (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Davidson, Ross J. ; Beeby, Andrew ; Low, Paul J. ; Prez-Murano, Francesc ; Cea, Pilar (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Martin, Santiago (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: The desire to continually reduce the lower limits of semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) fabrication methods continues to inspire interest in unimolecular electronics as a platform technology for the realization of future (opto)electronic devices. However, despite successes in developing methods for the construction and measurement of single-molecule and large-area molecular junctions, exercising control over the precise junction geometry remains a significant challenge. Here, host–guest complexes of the wire-like viologen derivative 1,1′-bis(4-(methylthio)-phenyl)-[4,4′-bipyridine]-1,1′-diium chloride ([1][Cl]2) and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) have been self-assembled in a regular pattern over a gold substrate. Subsequently, ligandless gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized in situ are deposited over the host–guest array. The agreement between the conductance of individual mono-molecular junctions, appropriately chosen as a function of the AuNP diameter, within this array determined by conductive probe atomic force microscope (c-AFM) and true single-molecule measurements for a closely similar host–guest complex within a scanning tunneling microscope break-junction (STM-BJ) indicates the formation of molecular junctions derived from these host–guest complexes without deleterious intermolecular coupling effects.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1039/d3nr05122f

Año: 2024

Publicado en: Nanoscale 16, 3 (2024), 1238-1246
ISSN: 2040-3364

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/E31-23R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/CTQ2017-84087-R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2019-105881RB-I00
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2022-141433OB-I00
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/RYC-2015-18471
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EUR/MICINN/TED2021-131318B-I00

Tipo y forma: Artículo (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Química Orgánica (Dpto. Química Orgánica)
Área (Departamento): Área Química Física (Dpto. Química Física)