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Achieving Efficient Multichannel Conductance in Through‐Space Conjugated Single‐Molecule Parallel Circuits
Author(s) -
Shen Pingchuan,
Huang Miaoling,
Qian Jingyu,
Li Jinshi,
Ding Siyang,
Zhou XiaoShun,
Xu Bin,
Zhao Zujin,
Tang Ben Zhong
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202000061
Subject(s) - conductance , molecule , materials science , conjugated system , thermal conduction , electronic circuit , quantum tunnelling , break junction , electron transport chain , chemical physics , nanotechnology , molecular wire , chemistry , optoelectronics , polymer , condensed matter physics , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , composite material , biochemistry
Constructing single‐molecule parallel circuits with multiple conduction channels is an effective strategy to improve the conductance of a single molecular junction, but rarely reported. We present a novel through‐space conjugated single‐molecule parallel circuit ( f ‐4Ph‐4SMe) comprised of a pair of closely parallelly aligned p ‐quaterphenyl chains tethered by a vinyl bridge and end‐capped with four SMe anchoring groups. Scanning‐tunneling‐microscopy‐based break junction (STM‐BJ) and transmission calculations demonstrate that f ‐4Ph‐4SMe holds multiple conductance states owing to different contact configurations. When four SMe groups are in contact with two electrodes at the same time, the through‐bond and through‐space conduction channels work synergistically, resulting in a conductance much larger than those of analogous molecules with two SMe groups or the sum of two p ‐quaterphenyl chains. The system is an ideal model for understanding electron transport through parallel π‐stacked molecular systems and may serve as a key component for integrated molecular circuits with controllable conductance.