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Weckbecker D, Coto PB, Thoss M. Molecular Transistor Controlled through Proton Transfer. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:413-417. [PMID: 33356318 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c03405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The potential of proton transfer reactions as a fundamental mechanism to realize a nanoscale molecular transistor is investigated. Employing density functional theory and the nonequilibrium Green's function formalism, we identify molecule-graphene nanojunctions, which exhibit high- and low-conducting states depending on the specific location of protons in the molecular bridge. In addition, we show that an electrostatic gate field can control the proton transfer process and thus allow specific conductance states to be selected. In this way, the current in the junction can be switched on and off as in a field-effect transistor. The underlying mechanism is analyzed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Weckbecker
- Lehrstuhl für theoretische Festkörperphysik, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 7/B2, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - P B Coto
- Materials Physics Center (CFM), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 5, 20018 Donostia/San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 Donostia/San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - M Thoss
- Physikalisches Institut, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 3, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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2
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Herrmann C. Electronic Communication as a Transferable Property of Molecular Bridges? J Phys Chem A 2019; 123:10205-10223. [PMID: 31380640 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.9b05618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Electronic communication through molecular bridges is important for different types of experiments, such as single-molecule conductance, electron transfer, superexchange spin coupling, and intramolecular singlet fission. In many instances, the chemical structure of the bridge determines how the two parts it is connecting communicate, and does so in ways that are transferable between these different manifestations (for example, high conductance often correlates with strong antiferromagnetic spin coupling, and low conductance due to destructive quantum interference correlates with ferromagnetic coupling). Defining electronic communication as a transferable property of the bridge can help transfer knowledge between these different areas of research. Examples and limits of such transferability are discussed here, along with some possible directions for future research, such as employing spin-coupled and mixed-valence systems as structurally well-controlled proxies for understanding molecular conductance and for validating first-principles theoretical methodologies, building conceptual understanding for the growing experimental work on intramolecular singlet fission, and developing measures for the transferability of electronic communication as a bridge property.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Herrmann
- Department of Chemistry , University of Hamburg , Martin-Luther-King-Platz 6 , Hamburg 20146 , Germany
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3
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Haidar EA, Tawfik SA, Stampfl C, Hirao K, Yoshizawa K, El-Demerdash SH, Nakajima T, El-Nahas AM. Electronic transport investigation of redox-switching of azulenequinones/hydroquinones via first-principles studies. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:17859-17867. [PMID: 31378789 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp03233a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The redox switching of non-alternant azulenequinone/hydroquinone molecules is investigated using density functional theory and the nonequilibrium Green's function. We examined the electronic transport properties of these molecules when subtended between gold electrodes. The results indicated that the reduction of 1,5-azulenequinone and oxidation of 1,7-azulene hydroquinone 2,6-dithiolate lead to a significant enhancement of the current compared to the respective oxidation of 1,5-azulene hydroquinone and reduction of 1,7-azulenequinone, thus "switching on" the transmission. The significance of the position of the functional group on the switching behavior has been analyzed and whether destructive quantum interference exists in the electron transport of the 1,5 position in particular has been addressed. Our work provides theoretical foundations for organic redox switching components in nanoelectronic circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- El-Abed Haidar
- School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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4
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Yang S, Li S, Filimonov SN, Fuentes-Cabrera M, Liu W. Principles of Design for Substrate-Supported Molecular Switches Based on Physisorbed and Chemisorbed States. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:26772-26780. [PMID: 29996648 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b07568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The physisorbed (precursor) and chemisorbed states of a molecule on metal surfaces can be utilized to build a logic switch at the single-molecule level, enabling further microminiaturization of electronic devices beyond the silicon limits. However, a serious drawback of this design is easy lateral diffusion of the molecule in the physisorbed state, which may destroy the normal switch operation. Here, we demonstrate that anchoring engineering can be an effective way to enhance the stability of molecular switches without degrading switching functionality. As exemplified by trans-ADT on Cu(111), we show that the lateral diffusion of such molecular switch can be obstructed by the anchoring of the ending thiophene groups, along with a rotation of the adsorbate during the switching process. More general, our results also suggest that when searching for molecular switches with reversible physisorbed and chemisorbed states with excellent bistability and lateral stability, the focus should be on finding molecules with a moderate HOMO-LUMO energy gap and anchoring atoms with positive charge that can then be deposited on substrates with which they interact moderately. This allows further improvement of the lateral and vertical stability of such a molecular switch by substituting the thiophene groups with selenophene, thus establishing trans-ADS on Cu(111) as a promising switch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Yang
- Nano and Heterogeneous Materials Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering , Nanjing University of Science and Technology , Nanjing 210094 , Jiangsu , China
| | - Shuang Li
- Nano and Heterogeneous Materials Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering , Nanjing University of Science and Technology , Nanjing 210094 , Jiangsu , China
| | | | - Miguel Fuentes-Cabrera
- Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and Computational Sciences and Engineering Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee 37831 , United States
| | - Wei Liu
- Nano and Heterogeneous Materials Center, School of Materials Science and Engineering , Nanjing University of Science and Technology , Nanjing 210094 , Jiangsu , China
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5
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Tawfik SA, Weston L, Cui XY, Ringer SP, Stampfl C. Near-Perfect Spin Filtering and Negative Differential Resistance in an Fe(II)S Complex. J Phys Chem Lett 2017; 8:2189-2194. [PMID: 28457138 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b00551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Density functional theory and nonequilibrium Green's function calculations have been used to explore spin-resolved transport through the high-spin state of an iron(II)sulfur single molecular magnet. Our results show that this molecule exhibits near-perfect spin filtering, where the spin-filtering efficiency is above 99%, as well as significant negative differential resistance centered at a low bias voltage. The rise in the spin-up conductivity up to the bias voltage of 0.4 V is dominated by a conductive lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, and this is accompanied by a slight increase in the magnetic moment of the Fe atom. The subsequent drop in the spin-up conductivity is because the conductive channel moves to the highest occupied molecular orbital, which has a lower conductance contribution. This is accompanied by a drop in the magnetic moment of the Fe atom. These two exceptional properties, and the fact that the onset of negative differential resistance occurs at low bias voltage, suggests the potential of the molecule in nanoelectronic and nanospintronic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leigh Weston
- Materials Department, University of California , Santa Barbara, California, United States
| | - X Y Cui
- Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, and School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney , New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - S P Ringer
- Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, and School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney , New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - C Stampfl
- School of Physics, The University of Sydney , New South Wales, 2006, Australia
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6
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Novko D, Blanco-Rey M, Tremblay JC. Intermode Coupling Drives the Irreversible Tautomerization in Porphycene on Copper(111) Induced by Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy. J Phys Chem Lett 2017; 8:1053-1059. [PMID: 28198627 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b00141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In this contribution, we develop a nonadiabatic theory that explains, from first-principles, the recently reported irreversible trans → cis tautomerization of porphycene on Cu(111) induced by a scanning tunnelling microscope at finite bias. The inelastic contribution to the STM current is found to excite a large number of skeletal vibrational modes of the molecule, thereby inducing a deformation of the potential energy landscape along the hydrogen transfer coordinate. Above a threshold bias, the stability of the tautomers is reversed, which indirectly drives the reaction via intermode coupling. The proposed potential deformation term accounts effectively for the excitation of all internal vibrational modes without increasing the dimensionality of the problem. The model yields information about reaction rates, explains the reaction irreversibility at low temperatures, and accounts for the presence of resonant processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dino Novko
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) , Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - María Blanco-Rey
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) , Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Departamento de Fı́sica de Materiales, Facultad de Quı́micas UPV/EHU , Apartado 1072, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Jean Christophe Tremblay
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin , Takustrasse 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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7
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Novko D, Tremblay JC, Blanco-Rey M. On the tautomerisation of porphycene on copper (111): Finding the subtle balance between van der Waals interactions and hybridisation. J Chem Phys 2016; 145:244701. [DOI: 10.1063/1.4972213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dino Novko
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Jean Christophe Tremblay
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustraße 3, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - María Blanco-Rey
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
- Departamento de Física de Materiales, Facultad de Químicas UPV/EHU, Apartado 1072, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
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8
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Tawfik SA, Cui XY, Ringer SP, Stampfl C. Large spin-filtering effect in Ti-doped defective zigzag graphene nanoribbon. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2016; 18:16224-8. [PMID: 27252042 DOI: 10.1039/c6cp01601d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Through first-principles calculations using the nonequilibrium Green's function formalism together with density functional theory, we study the conductance of double-vacancy zigzag graphene nanoribbons doped with four transition metal atoms Ti, V, Cr and Fe. We show that Ti doping induces large spin-filtering with an efficiency in excess of 90% for bias voltages below 0.5 V, while the other metal adatoms do not induce large spin filtering. This is despite the fact that the Ti dopant possesses small spin moment, while large moments reside on V, Cr and Fe dopants. Our analysis shows that the suppression of transmission in the spin-down channel in the Ti-doped graphene nanoribbon, thus the large spin filtering efficiency, is due to transmission anti-resonance arising from destructive quantum interference. These findings suggest that the decoration of graphene with titanium, and possibly other transition metals, can act as effective spin filters for nanospintronic applications.
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9
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Tawfik SA, Cui XY, Ringer SP, Stampfl C. Communication: Electrical rectification of C59N: The role of anchoring and doping sites. J Chem Phys 2016; 144:021101. [PMID: 26772547 DOI: 10.1063/1.4940142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on the nonequilibrium Green's function formalism and density-functional theory, we investigate the onset of electrical rectification in a single C59N molecule in conjunction with gold electrodes. Our calculations reveal that rectification is dependent upon the anchoring of the Au atom on C59N; when the Au electrode is singly bonded to a C atom (labeled here as A), the system does not exhibit rectification, whereas when the electrode is connected to the C-C bridge site between two hexagonal rings (labeled here as B), transmission asymmetry is observed, where the rectification ratio reaches up to 2.62 at ±1 V depending on the N doping site relative to the anchoring site. Our analysis of the transmission mechanism shows that N doping of the B configuration causes rectification because more transmission channels are available for transmission in the B configuration than in the A configuration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - X Y Cui
- Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, and School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - S P Ringer
- Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, and School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - C Stampfl
- School of Physics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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10
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Tada T, Yoshizawa K. Molecular design of electron transport with orbital rule: toward conductance-decay free molecular junctions. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2015; 17:32099-110. [DOI: 10.1039/c5cp05423k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we report our viewpoint of single molecular conductance in terms of frontier orbitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomofumi Tada
- Materials Research Center for Element Strategy
- Tokyo Institute of Technology
- Yokohama 226-8503
- Japan
| | - Kazunari Yoshizawa
- Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering
- Kyushu University
- Fukuoka 819-0395
- Japan
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