A reversible single-molecule switch based on activated antiaromaticity.

ABSTRACT: Single-molecule electronic devices provide researchers with an unprecedented ability to relate novel physical phenomena to molecular chemical structures. Typically, conjugated aromatic molecular backbones are relied upon to create electronic devices, where the aromaticity of the building blocks is used to enhance conductivity. We capitalize on the classical physical organic chemistry concept of Hückel antiaromaticity by demonstrating a single-molecule switch that exhibits low conductance in the neutral state and, upon electrochemical oxidation, reversibly switches to an antiaromatic high-conducting structure. We form single-molecule devices using the scanning tunneling microscope-based break-junction technique and observe an on/off ratio of ~70 for a thiophenylidene derivative that switche

SUBMITTER: Yin X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5659654 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature