Title: Radical Enhanced Charge Transport in Single-Molecule Phenothiazine Electrical Junctions

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

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 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 stable PTZ radical molecule will lead to promising applications in single-molecule electronics and spintronics.

Full-link:http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201707710/full