Theoretical Study on Electronic Transport Properties of Oligothiophene Molecular Devices

Based on the first-principles computational method and the elastic scattering Green＇s function theory, we have investigated the electronic transport properties of different oligothiophene molecular junctions theoretically. The numerical results show that the difference of geometric symmetries of the oligothiophene molecules leads to the difference of the contact configurations between the molecule and the electrodes, which results in the difference of the coupling parameters between the molecules and electrodes as well as the delocalization properties of the molecular orbitals. Hence, the series of oligothiophene molecular junctions display unusual conductive properties on the length dependence.

Effect of boron/nitrogen co-doping on transport properties of C60 molecular devices

By using nonequilibrium Green＇s function method and first-principles calculations, the electronic transport properties of doped C60 molecular devices were investigated. It is revealed that the C60 molecular devices show the metal behavior due to the interaction between the C60 molecule and the metal electrode. The current-voltage curve displays a linear behavior at low bias, and the currents have the relation of MI〉M3〉M4〉M2 when the bias voltage is lower than 0.6 V. Electronic transport properties are affected greatly by the doped atoms. Negative differential resistance is found in a certain bias range for C60 and C58BN molecular devices, but cannot be observed in C59B and C59N molecular devices. These unconventional effects can be used to design novel nanoelectronic devices.

Negative differential resistance behavior in doped C_(82) molecular devices

By using the first-principle calculations and nonequilibrium Green functions method, the electronic transport properties of molecular devices constructed by C82, C80BN and C80N2 were studied. The results show that the electronic transport properties of molecular devices are affected by doped atoms. Negative differential resistance (NDR) behavior can be observed in certain bias regions for C82 and C80BN molecular devices but cannot be observed for C80N2 molecular device. A mechanism for the negative differential resistance behavior was suggested.

A Theoretical Investigation on Rectifying Performance of a Single Motor Molecular Device

We report ab initio calculations of the transport behavior of a phenyl substituted molecular motor. The calculated results show that the transport behavior of the device is sensitive to the rotation degree of the rotor part. When the rotor part is parallel with the stator part, a better rectifying performance can be found in the current-voltage curve. However, when the rotor part revolves to vertical with the stator part, the currents in the positive bias region decrease slightly. More importantly, the rectifying performance disappears. Thus this offers us a new method to modulate the rectifying behavior in molecular devices.

High-performance spin-filtering and spin-rectifying effects in Blatter radical-based molecular spintronic device

We design a Blatter radical-based molecular spintronic device, and investigate its spin-polarized transport properties using density functional theory and non-equilibrium Green's function technique. High-performance spin-rectifying and spin-filtering effects are realized. The physical mechanism is explained by the spin-resolved bias voltage-dependent transmission spectra, the energy levels of the corresponding molecular projected self-consistent Hamiltonian orbitals, and their spatial distributions. The results demonstrate that the Blatter radical has great potential in the development of highperformance multifunctional molecular spintronic devices.

Photochemical hydrogen production with molecular devices comprising a zinc porphyrin and a cobaloxime catalyst

Two new noble-metal-free molecular devices, [{Co（dmgH）2Cl}{Zn（PyTPP）}] （1, dmgH = dimethyloxime, PyTPP = 5-（4- pyridyl）-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin） and [{Co（dmgH）2Cl}{Zn（apPyTPP）}] （2, apPyTPP = 5-[4-（isonicotinamidyl）phenyl]- 10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin）, for light-driven hydrogen generation were prepared and spectroscopically characterized. The zinc porphyrin photosensitizer and the Co III-based catalyst unit are linked by axial coordination of a pyridyl group in the periphery of zinc-porphyrin to the cobalt centre of catalyst with different lengths of bridges. The apparent fluorescence quenching and lifetime decays of 1 and 2 were observed in comparison with their reference chromophores, Zn（PyTPP） （3） and Zn（apPyTPP） （4）, suggesting a possibility for an intramolecular electron transfer from the singlet excited state of zinc porphyrin unit to the cobalt centre in the molecular devices. Photochemical H2-evolving studies show that complexes 1 and 2 are efficient molecular photocatalysts for visible light-driven H2 generation from water with triethylamine as a sacrificial electron donor in THF/H20, with turnover numbers up to 46 and 35 for 1 and 2, respectively. In contrast to these molecular devices, the multicomponent catalyst of zinc porphyrin and [Co（dmgH）2PyCl] did not show any fluorescence quenching and as a consequence, no H2 gas was detected by GC analysis in the presence of triethylamine with irradiation of visible light. The plausible mechanism for the photochemical H2 generation with these molecular devices is discussed.

Spin-filter effect and spin-polarized optoelectronic properties in annulene-based molecular spintronic devices

Using Fe, Co or Ni chains as electrodes, we designed several annulene-based molecular spintronic devices and investigated the quantum transport properties based on density functional theory and non-equilibrium Green＇s function method.Our results show that these devices have outstanding spin-filter capabilities and exhibit giant magnetoresistance effect,and that with Ni chains as electrodes, the device has the best transport properties. Furthermore, we investigated the spinpolarized optoelectronic properties of the device with Ni electrodes and found that the spin-polarized photocurrents can be directly generated by irradiating the device with infrared, visible or ultraviolet light. More importantly, if the magnetization directions of the two electrodes are antiparallel, the photocurrents with different spins are spatially separated, appearing at different electrodes. This phenomenon provides a new way to simultaneously generate two spin currents.

Rheological behavior of hydrolyzed polyacrylamide solution flowing through a molecular weight adjusting device with porous medium

The separate-layer injection in different interlayers and the injection of the same-molecular-weight polymer so- lution in a layer are necessary in the polymer flooding process because of heterogeneous multilayer sandstone reservoirs in EOR projects. To alleviate the matching problems between the layer permeability and the injected polymer molecular weight, a molecular weight adjusting device with porous medium was designed on the basis of mechanical degradation principle. In terms of four variables （polymer concentration, pore diameter, length of shear component and flow rate ）, the theological behavior of hydrolyzed polyacrylamide （HPAM） solu- tion flowing through the device was investigated in detail. The change of these variables is able to control the shear rate of HPAM solutions through ceramic foam, and achieve the desired degree of shear degradation and the final theological parameters-viscosity loss, viscoelasticity and pressure drop. Therefore, a linear relationship between viscosity loss and shearing rate was established so as to obtain the targeted viscosity easily. Field tests in the Daqing Oil Field showed that the polymer molecular weight could drop 20% to 50%. In a word, the results could guide the industrial application of the novel device and the further study of polymer degradation flowing through the porous medium.

A Molecular Modeling for the Complexation of Cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) with Substituted Benzenes and Biphenyls

Molecular orbital PM3 calculation was performed on the complexation of cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) with a number of 1,4-disubstituted benzenes and biphenyl derivatives. A fair correlation was found between the PM3 calculated binding energies and the experimental ones, which enabled the PM3 calculation to predict thc experimental binding energies for a number of important complexes. A good structure-activity relationship was also found between the PM3 calculated binding energies and the substituent molar refraction R-m and Hammett constants. indicating that the van der Waals force and the electronic interactions constituted the major driving forces for the complexation of cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene).

Gas-sensor property of single-molecule device:F_2 adsorbing effect

The single thiolated arylethynylene molecule with 9,10-dihydroanthracene core（denoted as TADHA） possesses pronounced negative differential conductance（NDC） behavior at lower bias regime. The adsorption effects of F2 molecule on the current and NDC behavior of TADHA molecular junctions are studied by applying non-equilibrium Green＇s formalism combined with density functional theory. The numerical results show that the F2 molecule adsorbed on the benzene ring of TADHA molecule near the electrode can dramatically suppresses the current of TADHA molecular junction. When the F2 molecule adsorbed on the conjugated segment of 9,10-dihydroanthracene core of TADHA molecule, an obviously asymmetric effect on the current curves induces the molecular system showing apparent rectifier behavior. However, the current especially the NDC behavior have been significantly enlarged when F2 addition reacted with triple bond of TADHA molecule.

The effects of contact configurations on the rectification of dipyrimidinyl-diphenyl diblock molecular junctions

The transport properties of a conjugated dipyrimidinyl-diphenyl diblock oligomer sandwiched between two gold electrodes, as recently reported by [Diez-Perez et al. Nature Chem. 1 635 （2009）], are theoretically investigated using the fully self-consistent nonequilibrium Green＇s function method combined with density functional theory. Two kinds of symmetrical anchoring geometries are considered. Calculated current-voltage curves show that the contact structure has a strong effect on the rectification behaviour of the molecular diode. For the equilateral triangle configuration, pronounced rectification behaviour comparable to the experimental measurement is revealed, and the theoretical analysis indicates that the observed rectification characteristic results from the asymmetric shift of the perturbed molecular energy levels under bias voltage. While for the tetrahedron configuration, both rectification and negative differential conductivity behaviours are observed. The calculated results further prove the close dependence of the transporting characteristics of molecular junctions on contact configuration.

Device design based on the covalent homocouplingof porphine molecules

Porphine has a great potential application in molecular electronic devices.In this work,based on the density functional theory(DFT)and combining with nonequilibrium Green's function(NEGF),we study the transport properties of the molecular devices constructed by the covalent homocoupling of porphine molecules conjunction with zigzag graphene nanoribbons electrodes.We find that different couple phases bring remarkable differences in the transport properties.Different coupling phases have different application prospects.We analyze and discuss the differences in transport properties through the molecular energy spectrum,electrostatic difference potential,local density of states(LDOS),and transmission pathway.The results are of great significance for the design of porphine molecular devices in the future.

The fabrication,characterization and functionalization in molecular electronics

Developments in advanced manufacturing have promoted the miniaturization of semiconductor electronic devices to a near-atomic scale,which continuously follows the‘top-down’construction method.However,huge challenges have been encountered with the exponentially increased cost and inevitably prominent quantum effects.Molecular electronics is a highly interdisciplinary subject that studies the quantum behavior of electrons tunneling in molecules.It aims to assemble electronic devices in a‘bottom-up’manner on this scale through a single molecule,thereby shedding light on the future design of logic circuits with new operating principles.The core technologies in this field are based on the rapid development of precise fabrication at a molecular scale,regulation at a quantum scale,and related applications of the basic electronic component of the‘electrode-molecule-electrode junction’.Therefore,the quantum charge transport properties of the molecule can be controlled to pave the way for the bottom-up construction of single-molecule devices.The review firstly focuses on the collection and classification of the construction methods for molecular junctions.Thereafter,various characterization and regulation methods for molecular junctions are discussed,followed by the properties based on tunneling theory at the quantum scale of the corresponding molecular electronic devices.Finally,a summary and perspective are given to discuss further challenges and opportunities for the future design of electronic devices.

Direct Z-scheme photochemical hybrid systems:Loading porphyrin-based metal-organic cages on graphitic-C_(3)N_(4) to dramatically enhance photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

The rational design of photochemical molecular device(PMD)and its hybrid system has great potential in improving the activity of photocatalytic hydrogen production.A series of Pd6L3 type metal-organic cages,denoted as MOC-Py-M(M=H,Cu,and Zn),are designed for PMDs by combining metalloporphyrin-based ligands with catalytically active Pd^(2+)centers.These metal-organic cages(MOCs)are first successfully hybridized with graphitic carbon nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))to form direct Z-scheme heterogeneous MOC-Py-M/g-C_(3)N_(4)(M=H,Cu,and Zn)photocatalysts via π-πinteractions.Benefiting from its better light absorption ability,the MOC-Py-Zn/g-C_(3)N_(4) catalyst exhibits high H_(2) production activity under visible light(10348μmol g^(-1) h^(-1)),far superior to MOC-Py-H/g-C_(3)N_(4) and MOC-Py-Cu/g-C_(3)N_(4).Moreover,the MOC-Py-Zn/g-C_(3)N_(4) system obtains an enhanced turn over number(TON)value of 32616 within 100 h,outperforming the homogenous MOC-Py-Zn(TON of 507 within 100 h),which is one of the highest photochemical hybrid systems based on MOC for visible-light-driven hydrogen generation.This confirms the direct Z-scheme heterostructure can promote effective charge transfer,expand the visible light absorption region,and protect the cages from decomposition in MOC-Py-Zn/g-C_(3)N_(4).This work presents a creative example that direct Z-scheme PMD-based systems for effective and persistent hydrogen generation from water under visible light are obtained by heterogenization approach using homogeneous porphyrin-based MOCs and g-C_(3)N_(4) semiconductors.

Molecular-scale electronics： From device fabrication to functionality

By wiring molecules into circuits, ＂molecular electronics＂ aims at studying electronic properties of single molecules and their ensembles, on this basis exploiting their intrinsic functionalities, and eventually applying them as building blocks of electronic components for future electronic devices. Herein, fabricating reliable solid-state molecular devices and developing synthetic molecules endowed with desirable electronic properties, have been two major tasks since the dawn of molecular electronics. This review focuses on recent advances and efforts regarding the main challenges in this field, highlighting fabrication of nanogap electrodes for single-molecule junctions, and self-assembled-monolayers （SAMs） for functional devices. The prospect of molecular-scale electronics is also discussed.

Insights into electrolyte effects on photoactivities of dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells for water splitting

Dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cell（DS-PEC） is an especially attractive method to generate hydrogen via visible light driven water splitting. Electrolyte, an essential component of DS-PEC, plays a great role in determining the photoactivities of devices for water splitting. When using phosphate buffer（pH = 6.4）as electrolyte, the DS-PEC displayed much higher photoactivity than using 0.1 M Na;SO;（pH = 6.4） as electrolyte. The insight is phosphate anion gathers together to form a negative electrostatic field on TiO;surface, which increases the resistance in the TiO;/catalyst and electrolyte interface and validly reduces the charge recombination from TiO;to the oxidized catalyst.

Conformational change-modulated spin transport at single-molecule level in carbon systems

Controlling the spin transport at the single-molecule level,especially without the use of ferromagnetic contacts,becomes a focus of research in spintronics.Inspired by the progress on atomic-level molecular synthesis,through firstprinciples calculations,we investigate the spin-dependent electronic transport of graphene nanoflakes with side-bonded functional groups,contacted by atomic carbon chain electrodes.It is found that,by rotating the functional group,the spin polarization of the transmission at the Fermi level could be switched between completely polarized and unpolarized states.Moreover,the transition between spin-up and spin-down polarized states can also be achieved,operating as a dual-spin filter.Further analysis shows that,it is the spin-dependent shift of density of states,caused by the rotation,that triggers the shift of transmission peaks,and then results in the variation of spin polarization.Such a feature is found to be robust to the length of the nanoflake and the electrode material,showing great application potential.Those findings may throw light on the development of spintronic devices.

Exploring how hydrogen at gold-sulfur interface affects spin transport in single-molecule junction

Very recently,experimental evidence showed that the hydrogen is retained in dithiol-terminated single-molecule junction under the widely adopted preparation conditions,which is in contrast to the accepted view[Nat.Chem.11351(2019)].However,the hydrogen is generally assumed to be lost in the previous physical models of single-molecule junctions.Whether the retention of the hydrogen at the gold-sulfur interface exerts a significant effect on the theoretical prediction of spin transport properties is an open question.Therefore,here in this paper we carry out a comparative study of spin transport in M-tetraphenylporphyrin-based(M=V,Cr,Mn,Fe,and Co;M-TPP)single-molecule junction through Au-SR and Au-S(H)R bondings.The results show that the hydrogen at the gold-sulfur interface may dramatically affect the spin-filtering efficiency of M-TPP-based single-molecule junction,depending on the type of transition metal ions embedded into porphyrin ring.Moreover,we find that for the Co-TPP-based molecular junction,the hydrogen at the gold-sulfur interface has no obvious effect on transmission at the Fermi level,but it has a significant effect on the spin-dependent transmission dip induced by the quantum interference on the occupied side.Thus the fate of hydrogen should be concerned in the physical model according to the actual preparation condition,which is important for our fundamental understanding of spin transport in the single-molecule junctions.Our work also provides guidance in how to experimentally identify the nature of gold-sulfur interface in the single-molecule junction with spin-polarized transport.

Regularly Tuning Quantum Interference in Single-Molecule Junctions through Systematic Substitution of Side Groups with Varied Electron Effects

Investigating the quantum interference effect in single molecules is essential to comprehensively understand the underlying mechanism of single-molecule charge transport.In this study,we employed the mother molecule m-OPE and introduced a series of side groups with various electronic effects at the 2-position of the central phenyl ring,creating four daughter m-OPE derivatives.The single molecular conductivities of these molecule wires were measured using the scanning tunneling microscope breaking junction technique.Our findings demonstrate that the substitutions regularly modulate the destructive quantum interference occurring within the m-OPE molecules.By combining optical and electrochemical investigations,along with density functional theory computations,we discover that the conductivity of the molecules corresponds to the electron-donating/withdrawing ability of the substituents.Specifically,by adjusting the electron structures of the molecular backbone,we can systematically tailor the destructive quantum interference in the m-OPE molecules.

One-Time Programmable Metal-Molecule-Metal Device

A one-time programmable metal-molecule-metal device, with a modified Rotaxane LB film as the functional layer, is proposed for potential use in organic programmable and fault tolerant circuits like inorganic anti-fuse devices used in field programmable gate arrays. All fabrication methods involved are low temperature processes, ensuring that this device can be integrated with other organic devices. Electrical measurements show that this device has a good one-time programming capability. Its break down voltage is 2.2V, off-state resistance is 15kΩ, and on-state resistance is 54Ω These characteristics come from the penetration of metal atoms into molecular film under high electronic field.