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Abstract
Unveiling the internal dynamics of rotation in molecular machine at single-molecule scale is still a challenge. In this work, three crank-shaped molecules are elaborately designed with the conformational flipping between syn and anti fulfilled by two naphthyl groups rotating freely along 1,3-butadiynyl axis. By investigating the single-molecule conductance using scanning tunnelling microscope break junction (STM-BJ) technique and theoretical simulation, the internal rotation of these crank-shaped molecules is well identified through low and high conductance corresponding to syn- and anti-conformations. As demonstrated by theoretically computational study, the orbital energy changes with the conformational flipping and influences the intraorbital quantum interference, thus eventually modulating the single-molecule conductance. This work demonstrates single-molecule conductance measurement to be a rational approach for characterizing the internal rotation of molecular machines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Science, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ping Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, NEL, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Jin-Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Science, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Bochao Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiamen Medical College, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Qian-Chong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Science, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
- Fujian Science and Technology Innovation Laboratory for Optoelectronic Information of China, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Wenjing Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, NEL, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Zhong-Ning Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Science, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
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