Revealing Molecule-Internal Mechanisms that Control Phonon Heat Transport through Single-Molecule Junctions by a Genetic Algorithm.

ABSTRACT: Measurements of the thermal conductance of single-molecule junctions have recently been reported. It is presently unclear how much the heat transport can be controlled through molecule-internal effects. The search for molecules with lowest and highest thermal conductance is complicated by the gigantic chemical space. Here, we describe a systematic search for molecules with a low or a high phononic thermal conductance using a genetic algorithm. Beyond individual structures of well-performing molecules, delivered by the genetic algorithm, we analyze patterns and identify the different physical and chemical mechanisms to suppress or enhance phonon heat flow. In detail, mechanisms revealed to reduce phonon transport are related to the choice of terminal linker blocks, substituents and correspo

SUBMITTER: Blaschke M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12444994 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature