Tuning the binding configurations of single-molecule junctions by molecular co-assembly. Issue 32 (7th April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tong, Ling; Bao, Shu-Yi; Jiang, Chen-Chen; Li, Xiao-Chong; Li, Jia-Jie; Huang-Fu, Xu-Nan; Zheng, Ju-Fang; Shao, Yong; Wang, Ya-Hao; Gao, Yi-Jing; Zhou, Xiao-Shun
• Is Part Of: Chemical communications. Volume 58:Issue 32(2022)
• Page Start: 4962
• Page End: 4965
• Publication Date: 2022-04-07
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/d2cc00406b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-7345

Abstract

Abstract : Co-assembling 1-ethylimidazole on Au(111) has been shown to be a feasible strategy for tuning the binding configurations of pyridine-linked molecular junctions in the most common aqueous and atmospheric environments. Abstract : Significant variability issues in metal-molecule contacts, such as adsorption geometry, lead to characteristic variability in the electrical responses of individual molecules. Herein, co-assembling 1-ethylimidazole (EIM) on Au(111) has been shown to be a feasible and effective strategy for tuning the binding configurations of pyridine-linked molecular junctions in the most common aqueous environments and atmospheric environments. The single-molecule conductance measurements clearly show a transition from multiple conductance peaks to a single conductance peak with increasing EIM concentration. Raman spectroscopy and DFT calculations suggest that the thermodynamically favorable EIM adsorbate results in the vertical orientation of the bipyridine.