Radical Enhanced Charge Transport in Single-Molecule Phenothiazine Electrical Junctions

Liu, Junyang; Zhao, Xiaotao; Al-Galiby, Qusiy; Huang, Xiaoyan; Zheng, Jueting; Li, Ruihao; Huang, Cancan; Yang, Yang; Shi, Jia; Manrique, David Zsolt; Lambert, Colin J.; Bryce, Martin R.; Hong, Wenjing

Abstract

We studied the single-molecule conductance through an acid oxidant triggered phenothiazine (PTZ-) based radical junction using the mechanically controllable break junction technique. The electrical conductance of the radical state was enhanced by up to 200 times compared to the neutral state, with high stability lasting for at least two months and high junction formation probability at room-temperature. Theoretical studies revealed that the conductance increase is due to a significant decrease of the HOMO–LUMO gap and also the enhanced transmission close to the HOMO orbital when the radical forms. The large conductance enhancement induced by the formation of the stable PTZ radical molecule will lead to promising applications in single-molecule electronics and spintronics.

Citation

Liu, J., Zhao, X., Al-Galiby, Q., Huang, X., Zheng, J., Li, R., …Hong, W. (2017). Radical Enhanced Charge Transport in Single-Molecule Phenothiazine Electrical Junctions. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 56(42), 13061-13065. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201707710

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 3, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Sep 12, 2017
• Publication Date: Sep 12, 2017
• Deposit Date: Oct 18, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 12, 2018
• Journal: Angewandte Chemie International Edition
• Print ISSN: 1433-7851
• Electronic ISSN: 1521-3773
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 56
• Issue: 42
• Pages: 13061-13065
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201707710
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1346188