σ-σ Stacked supramolecular junctions

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Organic Electronics
• Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

• Intermolecular charge transport is crucial for organic electronics and biological systems.
• Previous studies focused on π-π stacking in conjugated systems for charge transport.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate charge transport via σ-σ stacking in non-conjugated molecules.
• To demonstrate an efficient charge transport pathway through supramolecular junctions.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication and electrical characterization of molecular junctions using cyclohexanethiol and adamantane.
• Current-voltage (I-V) measurements and flicker noise analysis.
• Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and non-equilibrium Green's function (NEGF) method.

Main Results:

• σ-σ stacking in non-conjugated molecules facilitates efficient charge transport.
• Conductance of σ-σ stacked junctions is comparable to π-π stacked junctions.
• Evidence of through-space charge transport in stacked molecular junctions was observed.

Conclusions:

• σ-σ stacking provides a viable and efficient charge transport mechanism.
• This finding expands the scope of molecular design for organic electronic devices.
• Supramolecular junctions can be engineered using non-conjugated molecules for charge transport.