Unconventional molecule-resolved current rectification in diamondoid–fullerene hybrids - Research portal of Justus Liebig University Giessen:

Journal article

Unconventional molecule-resolved current rectification in diamondoid–fullerene hybrids

Authors list: Randel, JC; Niestemski, FC; Botello-Mendez, ARB; Mar, W; Ndabashimiye, G; melinte, S; Dahl, JEP; Carlson, RMK; Butova, ED; Fokin, AA; Schreiner, PR; Charlier, JC; Manoharan, HC

Publication year: 2014

Pages: 4877-

Journal: Nature Communications

Volume number: 5

Open access status: Hybrid

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5877

Publisher: Nature Research

Abstract:

The unimolecular rectifier is a fundamental building block of molecular
electronics. Rectification in single molecules can arise from electron
transfer between molecular orbitals displaying asymmetric spatial charge
distributions, akin to p–n junction diodes in semiconductors. Here we
report a novel all-hydrocarbon molecular rectifier consisting of a
diamantane–C₆₀ conjugate. By linking both sp³ (diamondoid) and sp²
(fullerene) carbon allotropes, this hybrid molecule opposingly pairs
negative and positive electron affinities. The single-molecule
conductances of self-assembled domains on Au(111), probed by
low-temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy and spectroscopy, reveal a
large rectifying response of the molecular constructs. This specific
electronic behaviour is postulated to originate from the electrostatic
repulsion of diamantane–C₆₀ molecules due to positively
charged terminal hydrogen atoms on the diamondoid interacting with the
top electrode (scanning tip) at various bias voltages. Density
functional theory computations scrutinize the electronic and vibrational
spectroscopic fingerprints of this unique molecular structure and
corroborate the unconventional rectification mechanism.

Authors/Editors

- Uni.-Prof. Dr. Peter Richard Schreiner, PhD

Citation Styles

Harvard Citation style: Randel, J., Niestemski, F., Botello-Mendez, A., Mar, W., Ndabashimiye, G., melinte, S., et al. (2014) Unconventional molecule-resolved current rectification in diamondoid–fullerene hybrids, Nature Communications, 5, p. 4877. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5877

APA Citation style: Randel, J., Niestemski, F., Botello-Mendez, A., Mar, W., Ndabashimiye, G., melinte, S., Dahl, J., Carlson, R., Butova, E., Fokin, A., Schreiner, P., Charlier, J., & Manoharan, H. (2014). Unconventional molecule-resolved current rectification in diamondoid–fullerene hybrids. Nature Communications. 5, 4877. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms5877