A New Photomechanical Molecular Switch Based on a Linear {\pi}-Conjugated System

We report the electronic transport properties of a new photo-addressable molecular switch. The switching process relies on a new concept based on linear {\pi}-conjugated dynamic systems, in which the geometry and hence the electronic properties of an oligothiophene chain can be reversibly modified b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2017-05
Main Authors: Lenfant, S, Viero, Y, Krzeminski, C, Vuillaume, D, Demeter, D, Dobra, I, Ocafrain, M, Blanchard, P, Roncali, J, C van Dyck, Cornil, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Electron transport
Gold
Isomerization
Mathematical analysis
Molecular machines
Resistance
Self-assembled monolayers
Self-assembly
Switching
Transport properties
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Summary:We report the electronic transport properties of a new photo-addressable molecular switch. The switching process relies on a new concept based on linear {\pi}-conjugated dynamic systems, in which the geometry and hence the electronic properties of an oligothiophene chain can be reversibly modified by the photochemical trans-cis isomerization of an azobenzene unit fixed in a lateral loop. Electron transport measurements through self-assembled monolayers on gold, contacted with eGaIn top contact, show switching with a conductance ratio up to 1E3. Ab initio calculations have been used to identify the most energetically stable conformations of the molecular switch, the corresponding calculated conductances qualitatively explain the trend observed in the photo-switching experiments.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.1705.07172