Dithienylethene-Based Single Molecular Photothermal Linear Actuator

Rashid, U and Chatir, E and Medrano Sandonas, L and Sreelakshmi, PA and Dianat, A and Gutierrez, R and Cuniberti, G and Cobo, S and Kaliginedi, V (2023) Dithienylethene-Based Single Molecular Photothermal Linear Actuator. In: Angewandte Chemie - International Edition .

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Abstract

By employing a mechanically controllable break junction technique, we have realized an ideal single molecular linear actuator based on dithienylethene (DTE) based molecular architecture, which undergoes reversible photothermal isomerization when subjected to UV irradiation under ambient conditions. As a result, open form (compressed, UV OFF) and closed form (elongated, UV ON) of dithienylethene-based molecular junctions are achieved. Interestingly, the mechanical actuation is achieved without changing the conductance of the molecular junction around the Fermi level over several cycles, which is an essential property required for an ideal single molecular actuator. Our study demonstrates a unique example of achieving a perfect balance between tunneling width and barrier height change upon photothermal isomerization, resulting in no change in conductance but a change in the molecular length, which results in mechanical actuation at the single molecular level. © 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Angewandte Chemie - International Edition
Publisher:	John Wiley and Sons Inc
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to John Wiley and Sons Inc.
Keywords:	Irradiation; Isomerization; Isomers; Mechanical actuators, Break-junctions; Dithienylethene; Isomerisation; Molecular actuators; Molecular junction; Molecular machines; Molecular switches; Photo-thermal; Photothermal switching; Single molecular actuator, Linear actuators
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Inorganic & Physical Chemistry
Date Deposited:	20 Mar 2023 09:25
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2023 09:25
URI:	https://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/81022

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