A gate-tunable single-molecule diode

In the pursuit of down-sizing electronic components, the ultimate limit is the use of single molecules as functional devices. The first theoretical proposal of such a device, predicted more than four decades ago, is the seminal Aviram–Ratner rectifier that exploits the orbital structure of the molecule. The experimental realization of single...

Computational design of donor-bridge-acceptor systems exhibiting pronounced quantum interference effects

Quantum interference is a well-known phenomenon that dictates charge transport properties of single molecule junctions. However, reports on quantum interference in donor-bridge-acceptor molecules are scarce. This might be due to the difficulties in meeting the conditions for the presence of quantum interference in a donor-bridge-acceptor system....

Synthesis of 1,2-biphenylethane based single-molecule diodes

We have described the synthesis of novel biphenylethane-based wires for molecular electronics. Exceptional single-molecule diode behavior was predicted for unsymmetrically substituted biphenylethane derivatives, synthesized here using the so far unexplored unsymmetrically substituted 1,2-bis(4-bromophenyl)ethanes as key intermediates, which were...

Catalytic control over the formation of supramolecular materials

In this Perspective, we will discuss how the rate of formation of supramolecular materials can be drastically enhanced by catalytically controlling the rate of formation of their molecular building blocks, resulting in the formation of out-of-equilibrium soft materials with enhanced mechanical properties. Also, the use of surface confined,...