Conformation-driven quantum interference effects mediated by through-space conjugation in self-assembled monolayers.

ABSTRACT: Tunnelling currents through tunnelling junctions comprising molecules with cross-conjugation are markedly lower than for their linearly conjugated analogues. This effect has been shown experimentally and theoretically to arise from destructive quantum interference, which is understood to be an intrinsic, electronic property of molecules. Here we show experimental evidence of conformation-driven interference effects by examining through-space conjugation in which π-conjugated fragments are arranged face-on or edge-on in sufficiently close proximity to interact through space. Observing these effects in the latter requires trapping molecules in a non-equilibrium conformation closely resembling the X-ray crystal structure, which we accomplish using self-assembled monolayers to construct bottom

SUBMITTER: Carlotti M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5187444 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature