Recent Advances in Photochemical Reactions on Single-Molecule Electrical Platforms

The photochemical reaction is a very important type of chemical reaction. Visualizing and controlling photo-mediated reactions is a long-standing goal and challenge. In this regard, single-molecule electrical detection with label-free, real-time, and in situ characteristics has unique advantages in monitoring the dynamic process of photoreactions at the single-molecule level. In this review, a valuable summary of the latest process of single-molecule photochemical reactions based on single-molecule electrical platforms is provided. The single-molecule electrical detection platforms for monitoring photoreactions are displayed, including their fundamental principles, construction methods, and practical applications. The single-molecule studies of two different types of light-mediated reactions are summarized as below: i) photo-induced reactions, including reversible cyclization, conformational isomerization, and other photo-related reactions; ii) plasmon-mediated photoreactions, including reaction mechanisms and concrete examples, such as plasmon-induced photolysis of SS/OO bonds and tautomerization of porphycene. In addition, the prospects for future research directions and challenges in this field are also discussed.