Probing the effects of conjugation path on the electronic transmission through single molecules using scanning tunneling microscopy.

Moth-Poulsen, Kasper; Patrone, Lionel; Stuhr-Hansen, Nicolai; Christensen, Jørn B; Bourgoin, Jean-Philippe; Bjørnholm, Thomas · Nano Lett · 2005

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

A systematic study of the relationship between the molecular structure of a series of thiol end-capped oligo-phenylenevinylenes (OPVs) and the coherent electronic transmission at the single molecule level was measured by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). This reveals a significant change in the electronic transparency of various OPV derivatives due to the insertion of a methylene spacer group or due to nitro group substitution. Apparently, changes in the conjugation path through the central benzene ring from para to meta substitution does not have a profound effect on the electronic transparency of the molecules.