Infrared spectroscopic characterization of [2]rotaxane molecular switch tunnel junction devices

Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers of a bistable [2]rotaxane were prepared at packing densities of 118, 73, and 54 A(2)/molecule. The monolayers were both characterized via infrared spectroscopy before and after evaporation of a 2 nm film of titanium and incorporated into molecular switch tunnel junction devices. The study suggests that the evaporation process primarily affects portions of the molecule exposed to the metal atom source. Thus, in tightly packed monolayers (73 and 54 A(2)/molecule), only the portions of the [2]rotaxane that are present at the molecule/air interface are clearly affected, leaving key functionality necessary for switching intact. Monolayers transferred at a lower pressure (118 A(2)/molecule) exhibit nonspecific damage and poor switching behavior following Ti deposition. These results indicate that tightly packed monolayers and sacrificial functionality displayed at the molecule/air interface are important design principles for molecular electronic devices.     

非极性烷烃溶剂在聚乙烯膜中无限稀释扩散系数的测定

气相色谱法研究小分子溶剂与聚合物材料之间的相互作用是一种快速、准确、方便的方法,该方法可以用来研究多种小分子溶剂在聚合物中的溶解和扩散行为.通过气相色谱法测定了3种小分子烷烃溶剂(正庚烷、正壬烷和正癸烷)在固定液聚乙烯中的保留时间和半峰宽,用vanDeemter模型进行数据处理,得到3种小分子在聚乙烯膜中的无限稀释扩散系数.     

水、甲醇和乙醇溶剂在PVA膜材料中无限稀释扩散系数测定

用气相色谱法研究小分子溶剂与聚合物材料之间的相互作用是一种快速、准确和方便的方法,该方法可以测量多种小分子溶剂在聚合物中的溶解和扩散行为.采用该方法测定了水、甲醇、乙醇在固定液PVA中的保留时间和半峰宽,运用van Deemter模型进行数据处理,得到了上述几种小分子在PVA膜材料中的无限稀释扩散系数,获得了有意义的结果.     

Theoretical simulations of the tip-induced configuration changes of the 4,4(')-diacetyl-p-terphenyl molecule chemisorbed on Si(001)

We have investigated from a theoretical point of view modifications of the 4,4(')-diacetyl-p-terphenyl molecule chemisorbed on Si(001) induced by the scanning tunneling microscope (STM). In previous experiments, these modifications were observed to occur preferentially at the end of the molecule after a +4.0 V voltage pulse and at the center after a +4.5 V voltage pulse. In the framework of ab initio simulations, we have realized a systematic energetic study of the dissociative chemisorption of one, two, or three phenyl rings of the substituted p-terphenyl molecule. Charge densities were then calculated for the investigated configurations and compared to the STM topographies. Before manipulation with the STM tip, the substituted p-terphenyl molecule is preferentially adsorbed without phenyl ring dissociation, allowing a partial rotation of the central phenyl ring. Our results show that the STM induced modifications observed at the end of the molecule might originate from the dissociation of two phenyl rings (one central and one external ring), while the modifications occurring at the central part of the molecule can be interpreted as a dissociation of the two external rings.     

Co-adsorption of CO molecules at the open ends of MgO nanotubes

Equilibrium geometries, stabilities, and electronic properties of the adsorption of a CO molecule along with two or three CO co-adsorptions at the open ends of MgO nanotubes have been investigated through density functional calculations. It was found that the interaction of CO molecule with ends of the tube is much stronger than that of with its exterior surface. It was also found that adsorption of the second CO molecule at the end of the tube is independent of the first adsorbed CO molecule, while the prior adsorption process impacts the third adsorption. This phenomenon was described based on the frontier molecular orbital analysis, showing that the third CO molecule has to interact with high energetic unoccupied orbitals instead of the LUMO. Furthermore, it was revealed that similar to CO adsorption on the exterior surface of the tube, the adsorption at its open ends is electronically harmless.     

Modulation of molecular conductance induced by electrode atomic species and interface geometry

We present a systematic theoretical investigation of the interaction of an organic molecule with gold and palladium electrodes. We show that the chemical nature of the electrode elicits significant geometrical changes in the molecule. These changes, which are characteristic of the electrode atomic species and the interface geometry, are shown to occur at distances as great as 10 Angstrom from the interface, leading to a significant modification of the inherent electronic properties of the molecule. In certain interface geometries, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of the palladium-contacted molecule exhibits enhanced charge delocalization at the center of the molecule, compared to gold. Also, the energy gap between the conductance peak of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and the Fermi level is smaller for the case of the palladium electrode, thereby giving rise to a higher current level at a given bias than the gold-contacted molecule. These results indicate that an optimal choice of the atomic species and contact geometry could lead to significantly enhanced conductance of molecular devices and could serve as a viable alternative to molecular derivatization.     

Fluorescence from molecules between mirrors

A quantum theory calculation is presented of the fluorescence lifetime of an oriented molecule held at a fixed position between a pair of parallel infinite mirrors. When the molecule lies close to one of the mirrors and the mirror—mirror separation greatly exceeds λ, the wavelength of the transition, the results of the classical theory of Kuhn are recovered. In particular it is shown that the molecule does not fluoresce during a period comparable to the half-life of the isolated molecule if the transition is polarized parallel to the mirror. It fluoresces at twice the isolated molecule rate if the transition dipole is perpendicular to the mirror. A brief discussion is given of the problems of molecular interactions with real metal surfaces and the proton fields of optical wave guides.     

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes: a new class of amphiphiles at the air/water interface

Insoluble films of trisilanolisobutyl-POSS and octaisobutyl-POSS at the air/water interface are investigated by means of surface pressure - area per molecule isotherm (Pi - A) and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). Analysis of the experimental results shows the partial cage molecule, trisilanolisobutyl-POSS, is a surface-active molecule that self-assembles into uniform monolayer upon compression; but the fully condensed cage molecule, octaisobutyl-POSS, is nonamphiphilic.     

Theoretical Studies on the Coplanar Dicage Pentaprismane C16H12

1 INTRODUCTION A series of hydrocarbons of polyhedral shapes or cages, such as cubane and dodecahrane[1], have been synthesized. Each of these molecules has only one cage. It is well known that every carbon atom can form four bonds with other atoms, and …     

极性和非极性溶剂在聚乙烯中的无限稀释扩散系数的测定

 气相法研究小分子溶剂与高分子聚合物材料之间的相互作用是一个快速、准确、方便的方法 ,可以测量多种小分子溶剂在聚合物中的溶解、扩散参数。通过气相法测定了 5种小分子溶剂 (正己烷、正庚烷、正癸烷、乙醇和水 )在固定液聚乙烯中的保留时间和半峰宽 ,运用vanDeemter模型进行数据处理 ,得到上述 5种小分子在聚乙烯中的无限稀释扩散系数 ,获得了十分有意义的结果。     

Self-Assembly of Quinodimethanes through Covalent Bonds: A Novel Principle for the Synthesis of Functional Macrocycles

A multiplication of functional units was accomplished in a simple fashion by the tetramerization of a quinodimethane. This principle is demonstrated by the convergent construction of a macrocyclic molecule with 16 ferrocenes and a macrocyclic molecule with 16 dendritic units at the periphery of the molecule (see scheme). FG=functional group     

Electron Transport through Single π‐Conjugated Molecules Bridging between Metal Electrodes

Understanding electron transport through a single molecule bridging between metal electrodes is a central issue in the field of molecular electronics. This review covers the fabrication and electron‐transport properties of single π‐conjugated molecule junctions, which include benzene, fullerene, and π‐stacked molecules. The metal/molecule interface plays a decisive role in determining the stability and conductivity of single‐molecule junctions. The effect of the metal–molecule contact on the conductance of the single π‐conjugated molecule junction is reviewed. The characterization of the single benzene molecule junction is also discussed using inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy and shot noise. Finally, electron transport through the π‐stacked system using π‐stacked aromatic molecules enclosed within self‐assembled coordination cages is reviewed. The electron transport in the π‐stacked systems is found to be efficient at the single‐molecule level, thus providing insight into the design of conductive materials.     

5,6]-Heterofullerene-like C58Ge: odd atoms assembling a cage

Density functional calculations and structural minimization techniques have been employed to characterize the structural and electronic properties of [5,6]-heterofullerene-like C(58)Ge. The heterofullerene molecule has an odd number of atoms on the skeleton of the cage and is a novel molecule. The vibrational frequencies of the molecule have been calculated at the B3LYP/3-21G level of theory. The absence of imaginary vibrational frequency confirms that the molecule corresponds to a true minimum on the potential energy hypersurface. Its heat of formation was estimated in this study. Since the symmetry of the molecule of [5,6]-heterofullerene-like C(58)Ge is C(2), it is a chiral molecule.     

Detecting Air Pollutant Molecules Using Tube-Shaped Single Electron Transistor

An air pollution detector is proposed based on a tube-shaped single-electron transistor (SET) sensor. By monitoring the flow control component of the detector, each air pollutant molecule can be placed at the center of a SET nanopore and is treated as an island of the SET device in the same framework. Electron transport in the SET was incoherent, and the performances of the SET were sensitive at the single molecule level. Employing first-principles calculations, electronic features of an air pollutant molecule within a tube-shaped SET environment were found to be independent of the molecule rotational orientations with respect to axis of symmetry, unlike the electronic features in a conventional SET environment. Charge stability diagrams of the island molecules were demonstrated to be distinct for each molecule, and thus they can serve as electronic fingerprints for detection. Using the same setup, quantification of the air pollutant can be realized at room temperature as well. The results presented herein may help provide guidance for the identification and quantification of various types of air pollutants at the molecular level by treating the molecule as the island of the SET component in the proposed detector.     

Coagulation and stabilization of sterically functionalized magnetite nanoparticles in an organic solvent with different technical polymers

Single crystalline zinc tin oxide (ZTO) nanocrystallites were prepared at room temperature through association with a peptide-containing bolaamphiphile molecule. The bolaamphiphile molecules self-assembled to form spherical structures with creation of ZTO nanocrystallites inside. ZTO nanocrystallite synthesis was achieved only when the bolaamphiphile molecule was present, while a mixture of amorphous Sn and Zn precipitates was formed in the absence of the bolaamphiphile molecule. The bolaamphiphile molecule is thought to stabilize the Zn(2+) and Sn(4+) precursor ions by ligation and to induce subsequent condensation forming crystalline ZTO. The ZTO formation was achieved only at a strong acidic condition that promotes dissociation and ionization of Zn and Sn precursors and represses formation of ZnO and H(2)SnO(3). The prepared ZTO nanocrystallites had almost the same band gap energy as ZTO nanoparticles prepared by the conventional hydrothermal process. The outcomes of this study indicate that the controlled mineralization of metal precursor ions in a peptide-containing bolaamphiphile molecule suspension can be an alternative method to synthesize metal oxides at room temperature, while maintaining their crystalline structure and optoelectrical properties.     

Gold Nanorod Enhanced Fluorescence Enables Single‐Molecule Electrochemistry of Methylene Blue

Redox reactions are central to energy conversion and life metabolism. Herein we present electrochemical measurements with fluorescent readout of the redox‐sensitive dye Methylene Blue (MB), at the single‐molecule (SM) level. To overcome the low fluorescence quantum yield of MB we enhanced fluorescence by using individual gold nanorods to achieve the required sensitivity. By measuring the same molecule at different electrochemical potentials we determined the mid‐point potential of each single molecule through its redox‐induced fluorescence blinking dynamics.     

DFT Study on a Heterofullerene C_(58)Sn with Odd Number of Atoms

Density functional theory calculations and structural minimization techniques have been employed to characterize the structural and electronic properties of [5,6]-heterofullerene-C58Sn-C2. Since the heterofullerene molecule CssSn has a nearly planar tetra-coordinated Sn atom on the skeleton of cage, it is a heterofullerene molecule with odd number of atoms and a novel molecule. Vibrational frequencies of the molecule have been calculated at the B3LYP/CEP-31G level of theory. The absence of imaginary vibrational frequency confirms that the molecule corresponds to a true minimum on the potential energy hypersurface, and its heat of formation was estimated in this study. Owing to the C2 symmetry of [5,6]-heterofullerene-C58Sn-C2, it is a chiral molecule.     

用密度泛函理论研究NO在H-ZSM-5分子筛不同酸性位的吸附

利用密度泛函理论(DFT),基于7T簇模型,在B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)水平上研究了NO分子在H-ZSM-5分子筛孔道中α,β,γ酸性位的吸附.在计算过程中,首先对H-ZSM-5的α,β,γ酸性位进行优化计算,然后对NO分子η1-N和η1-O两种吸附模式的红外光谱和吸附能进行计算.计算结果表明,NO分子以η1-N模式吸附于H-ZSM-5分子筛酸性位上,不同酸性位对NO分子的吸附能力排序为:α酸性位>β酸性位>γ酸性位.此外,H-ZSM-5分子筛直型孔道更有利于NO分子的吸附和扩散,因而可更有效地促进NO分子催化分解反应的进行.     

On the study of the Metal-complex Dye Polyurethane Ionomer

The reaction of toluene diisocyanate with polyester, dimethylol propionic acid, metal-complex dye and other additives to form the structure of metal-complex dye polyurethane ionomer molecule has been proven by FT-IR spectra. In aqueous solution, the surface tension of metal-complex dye polyurethane ionomer molecule is seen to slightly increase with increasing concentrtion of metal-complex dye and neopentyl glycol, respectively. This is because the adsorption of hydrophobics of ionomer molecules at the surface of aqueous solution becomes even more order. Under the same experimental condition, the surface tension of metal-complex dye polyurethane ionomer molecule in aqueous solution appears to slightly decrease with increasing NCO/OH ratio, as a result of increased hydrophobics of ionomer molecule adsorbed at the surface of aqueous solution.