The possibility of controlling electron transport in a single molecule bridged between two metal electrodes represents the ultimate goal of molecular electronics. Molecular electronics aims also at introducing specific properties for the electron transport features both by controlling the structural details of the junction and by exploiting new chemical functionalities. Here we show that, in a molecular junction, where electrodes are represented by a gold substrate and the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope in electrochemical environment, the use of a single molecular species makes it possible to obtain different features for the tunneling current according to the structural details of the junction. In particular, molecules endowed with redox properties brought about by a hydroquinone/benzoquinone redox couple can show both transistor-like and negative differential resistance (NDR) effects. We discuss the mechanistic processes that might describe the different behavior in light of theories of electron transfer between metal electrodes and redox molecules. The results show, on the one hand, the great potential and flexibility that molecular electronics offer and, on the other hand, the need of controlling as much as possible the details of the tunneling junction in order to obtain reproducible results.

Hydroquinone-Benzoquinone Redox Couple as a Versatile Element for Molecular Electronics / Alessandrini, Andrea; Petrangolini, Paolo. - In: JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C. - ISSN 1932-7447. - STAMPA. - 117:34(2013), pp. 17451-17461. [10.1021/jp405516z]

Hydroquinone-Benzoquinone Redox Couple as a Versatile Element for Molecular Electronics

ALESSANDRINI, Andrea;PETRANGOLINI, PAOLO
2013

Abstract

The possibility of controlling electron transport in a single molecule bridged between two metal electrodes represents the ultimate goal of molecular electronics. Molecular electronics aims also at introducing specific properties for the electron transport features both by controlling the structural details of the junction and by exploiting new chemical functionalities. Here we show that, in a molecular junction, where electrodes are represented by a gold substrate and the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope in electrochemical environment, the use of a single molecular species makes it possible to obtain different features for the tunneling current according to the structural details of the junction. In particular, molecules endowed with redox properties brought about by a hydroquinone/benzoquinone redox couple can show both transistor-like and negative differential resistance (NDR) effects. We discuss the mechanistic processes that might describe the different behavior in light of theories of electron transfer between metal electrodes and redox molecules. The results show, on the one hand, the great potential and flexibility that molecular electronics offer and, on the other hand, the need of controlling as much as possible the details of the tunneling junction in order to obtain reproducible results.
2013
117
34
17451
17461
Hydroquinone-Benzoquinone Redox Couple as a Versatile Element for Molecular Electronics / Alessandrini, Andrea; Petrangolini, Paolo. - In: JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C. - ISSN 1932-7447. - STAMPA. - 117:34(2013), pp. 17451-17461. [10.1021/jp405516z]
Alessandrini, Andrea; Petrangolini, Paolo
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
jp405516z.pdf

Accesso riservato

Tipologia: Versione dell'autore revisionata e accettata per la pubblicazione
Dimensione 1.45 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.45 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Licenza Creative Commons
I metadati presenti in IRIS UNIMORE sono rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal, mentre i file delle pubblicazioni sono rilasciati con licenza Attribuzione 4.0 Internazionale (CC BY 4.0), salvo diversa indicazione.
In caso di violazione di copyright, contattare Supporto Iris

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1000314
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 23
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 25
social impact