TY - JOUR
T1 - Influence of Peripheral Alkyl Groups on Junction Configurations in Single-Molecule Electronics
AU - Ornago, Luca
AU - Zwick, Patrick
AU - van der Poel, Sebastiaan
AU - Brandl, Thomas
AU - El Abbassi, Maria
AU - Perrin, Mickael L.
AU - Dulić, Diana
AU - van der Zant, Herre S.J.
AU - Mayor, Marcel
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - The addition of a lateral alkyl chain is a well-known strategy to reduce π-stacked ensembles of molecules in solution, with the intention to minimize the interactions between the molecules’ backbones. In this paper, we study whether this concept generalizes to single-molecule junctions by using a combination of mechanically controllable break junction (MCBJ) measurements and clustering-based data analysis with two small series of model compounds decorated with various bulky groups. The systematic study suggests that introducing alkyl side chains also favors the formation of electrode-molecule configurations that are not observed in their absence, thereby inducing broadening of the conductance peak in the one-dimensional histograms. Thus, the introduction of alkyl chains in aromatic compounds for molecular electronics must be carefully designed and optimized for the specific purpose, balancing between increased solubility and the possibility of additional junction configurations.
AB - The addition of a lateral alkyl chain is a well-known strategy to reduce π-stacked ensembles of molecules in solution, with the intention to minimize the interactions between the molecules’ backbones. In this paper, we study whether this concept generalizes to single-molecule junctions by using a combination of mechanically controllable break junction (MCBJ) measurements and clustering-based data analysis with two small series of model compounds decorated with various bulky groups. The systematic study suggests that introducing alkyl side chains also favors the formation of electrode-molecule configurations that are not observed in their absence, thereby inducing broadening of the conductance peak in the one-dimensional histograms. Thus, the introduction of alkyl chains in aromatic compounds for molecular electronics must be carefully designed and optimized for the specific purpose, balancing between increased solubility and the possibility of additional junction configurations.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85183488522&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/acs.jpcc.3c06970
DO - 10.1021/acs.jpcc.3c06970
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85183488522
SN - 1932-7447
VL - 128
SP - 1413
EP - 1422
JO - Journal of Physical Chemistry C
JF - Journal of Physical Chemistry C
IS - 3
ER -