Effectively Enhancing the Conductance of Asymmetric Molecular Wires by Aligning the Energy Level and Symmetrizing the Coupling.

An asymmetric structure is an important strategy for designing highly conductive molecular wires for a gap-fixed molecular circuit. As the conductance enhancement in the current strategy is still limited to about 2 times, we inserted a methylene group as a spacer in a conjugated structure to modulate the structural symmetry. We found that the conductance drastically enhanced in the asymmetric molecular wire to 1.5 orders of magnitude as high as that in the symmetric molecular wire. First-principles quantum transport studies attributed the effective enhancement to the synchronization of improved energy alignment and nearly symmetric coupling between the frontier orbitals and the electrodes.

Exploring a Linear Combination Feature for Predicting the Conductance of Parallel Molecular Circuits.

An accurate rule for predicting conductance is the cornerstone of developing molecular circuits and provides a promising solution for miniaturizing electric circuits. The successful prediction of series molecular circuits has proven the possibility of establishing a rule for molecular circuits under quantum mechanics. However, the quantitatively accurate prediction has not been validated by experiments for parallel molecular circuits. Here we used 1,3-dihydrobenzothiophene (DBT) to build the parallel molecular circuits. The theoretical simulation and single-molecule conductance measurements demonstrated that the conductance of the molecule containing one DBT is the unprecedented linear combination of the conductance of the two individual channels with respective contribution weights of 0.37 and 0.63. With these weights, the conductance of the molecule containing two DBTs is predicted as 1.81 nS, matching perfectly with the measured conductance (1.82 nS). This feature offers a potential rule for quantitatively predicting the conductance of parallel molecular circuits.

Fano Resonance in Single-Molecule Junctions.

The Fano resonance in single-molecule junctions could be created by interaction with discrete and continuous molecular orbitals and enables effective electron transport modulation between constructive and destructive interference within a small energy range. However, direct observation of Fano resonance remains unexplored because of the disappearance of discrete orbitals by molecule-electrode coupling. We demonstrated the room-temperature observation of Fano resonance from electrochemical gated single-molecule conductance and current-voltage measurements of a para-carbazole anion junction. Theoretical calculations reveal that the negative charge on the nitrogen atom induces a localized HOMO on the molecular center, creating Fano resonance by interfering with the delocalized LUMO on the molecular backbone. Our findings demonstrate that the Fano resonance in electron transport through single-molecule junctions opens pathways for designs of interference-based electronic devices.

Transport Modulation Through Electronegativity Gating in Multiple Nitrogenous Circuits.

Investigating the correlations of electron transport between multiple channels shows vital promises for the design of molecule-scale circuits with logic operations. To control the electron transport through multiple channels, the modulation of electronegativity shows an effective frontier orbit control method with high universality to explore the interactions between transport channels. Here, two series of compounds with a single nitrogenous conductive channel (Sg) and dual-channels (Db) are designed to explore the influence of electronegativity on electron tunneling transport. Single-molecule conductance measured via the scanning tunneling microscope break junction technique (STM-BJ) reveals that the conductance of Db series is significantly suppressed as the electronegativity of nitrogen becomes negative, while the suppression on Sg is less obvious. Theoretical calculations confirm that the effect of electronegativity extends to a dispersive range of molecular frameworks owing to the delocalized orbital distribution from the dual-channel structure, resulting in a more significant conductance suppression effect than that on the single-channel. This study provides the experimental and theoretical potentials of electronegativity gating for molecular circuits.

Capturing the Rotation of One Molecular Crank by Single-Molecule Conductance.

Unveiling the internal dynamics of rotation in molecular machine at single-molecule scale is still a challenge. In this work, three crank-shaped molecules are elaborately designed with the conformational flipping between syn and anti fulfilled by two naphthyl groups rotating freely along 1,3-butadiynyl axis. By investigating the single-molecule conductance using scanning tunnelling microscope break junction (STM-BJ) technique and theoretical simulation, the internal rotation of these crank-shaped molecules is well identified through low and high conductance corresponding to syn- and anti-conformations. As demonstrated by theoretically computational study, the orbital energy changes with the conformational flipping and influences the intraorbital quantum interference, thus eventually modulating the single-molecule conductance. This work demonstrates single-molecule conductance measurement to be a rational approach for characterizing the internal rotation of molecular machines.

Enhancing Phosphorescence through Rigidifying the Conformation to Achieve High-Efficiency OLEDs by Modified PEDOT.

Bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphine (dpmp)-supported Pt2Au heterotrinuclear complexes [Pt2Au(dpmp)2(C≡CPh)4](ClO4) (1), [Pt2Au(dpmp)2(DEBf)(C≡CPh)2](ClO4) (2), and [Pt2Au(dpmp)2(DECz)(C≡CPh)2](ClO4) (3) were prepared and used in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) as a new class of light emitters, where DEBf = dibenzofuran-4,6-diacetylide and DECz = 3,6-di-tert-butylcarbazole-1,8-diacetylide. Although the flexible structure of Pt2Au complex 1 (λem = 503 nm, Φem < 0.1%) results in weak photoluminescence in fluid CH2Cl2, complexes 2 (λem = 585 nm, Φem = 4.9%) and 3 (λem = 589 nm, Φem = 3.2%) with a rigid conformation give a much stronger phosphorescence. The displacement of two σ-bonded phenylacetylide ligands with a diacetylide ligand such as DEBf and DECz to fasten Pt2Au structures facilitates greatly luminescent emission so that the emissive quantum yield in doping film is as high as 89% for 2 and 93% for 3. As revealed by a theoretical study, the severe structural distortion of diacetylide-linked Pt2Au complexes 2 (λem = 585 nm) and 3 (λem = 589 nm) in a triplet excited state gives rise to significant red shifts of phosphorescent emission spectra relative to that of complex 1 (λem = 503 nm). By means of Pt2Au complexes as phosphorescent emitters, solution-processed OLEDs achieved a relatively low external quantum efficiency (EQE < 9.5%) when commercial poly(ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) was used as the hole-injection layer (HIL). In contrast, the peak EQE was increased to 18.3% with a dramatic increase of efficiency by the use of modified HILs composed of PEDOT:PSS and PSS-Na, which provide a higher work function and a better film morphology.

Ligand-Dependent Luminescence Properties of Lanthanide-Titanium Oxo Clusters.

A series of lanthanide-titanium oxo clusters (LnTOCs), Ln2Ti8-Ac, Ln2Ti8-p-Toluic, and Ln2Ti8-Anthra (Ln = Eu and Tb), were prepared based on acetic acid (HAc), p-toluic acid (Hp-Toluic), and anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (HAnthra). Crystal structural analysis showed that these clusters possess the same metal topology framework, in which eight Ti4+ ions form a cube and two Ln3+ ions are located on the opposite faces of the cube. The luminescence investigation discovered that the Eu2Ti8-Ac displays the highest quantum yields with 15.6%, and the conjugation effect of ligand substituents can lower the triplet state energy of ligands, thus regulating the luminescence quantum yield of the Ln2Ti8 clusters. These results suggest that the triplet excited-state energy of the ligands should match well with the energy levels of Ln3+ to enhance the luminescence.

Multiphotochromism in an Asymmetric Ruthenium Complex with Two Different Dithienylethenes.

An asymmetric bis(dithienylethene-acetylide) ruthenium(II) complex trans-Ru(dppe)2(L1o)(L2o) (1oo) incorporating two different dithienylethene-acetylides (L1o and L2o) was designed to modulate multistate photochromism in view of the well separated ring-closing absorption bands between L1o and L2o. Upon irradiation with appropriate wavelengths of light, complex 1 undergoes stepwise photocyclization and selective photocycloreversion to afford four states (1oo, 1co, 1oc, and 1cc). As a contrast, symmetric complexes trans-Ru(dppe)2(L1o)2 (2oo) and trans-Ru(dppe)2(L2o)2 (3oo) with two identical dithienylethene-acetylides were synthesized, and the corresponding photochromic behavior was investigated. The photochromic properties of the oxidized species (1oo+/1co+/1oc+/1cc+, 2oo+/2co+/2cc+, and 3oo+/3co+/3cc+) were also investigated. The ring-closing absorption bands of one-electron oxidized species 1oo+, 2oo+, and 3oo+ show obvious blue shifts relative to those of 1oo, 2oo, and 3oo, respectively. The ring-closing absorption bands in both neutral and oxidized species grow progressively following oo → oc/co → cc and oo+ → oc+/co+ → cc+. As revealed by spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational studies, complex 1 displays eight switchable states through stepwise photocyclization, selective cycloreversion, and a reversible redox process.

Photophysical and Electroluminescent Properties of PtAg2 Acetylide Complexes Supported with meso- and rac-Tetraphosphine.

1,2-Bis[[(diphenylphosphino)methyl](phenyl)phosphino]ethane (dpmppe) was prepared as a new tetraphosphine, and the corresponding rac and meso stereoisomers were successfully separated in view of their solubility difference in acetone. The substitution of PPh3 into Pt(PPh3)2(C≡CR)2 (R = aryl) with rac- or meso-dpmppe gives Pt(rac-dpmppe)(C≡CR)2 or Pt(meso-dpmppe)(C≡CR)2, respectively. Using Pt(rac-dpmppe)(C≡CR)2 or Pt(meso-dpmppe)(C≡CR)2 as a precursor, PtAg2 heterotrinuclear cluster complexes were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Depending on the conformations of tetraphosphine, the structures of PtAg2 complexes supported with rac- and meso-dpmppe are quite different. The higher molecular rigidity of rac-dpmppe-supported PtAg2 complexes results in stronger phosphorescent emission than that of PtAg2 species with meso-dpmppe. The high phosphorescent quantum yields (as high as 90.5%) in doping films warrant these PtAg2 complexes as excellent phosphorescent dopants in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The peak current and external quantum efficiencies in solution-processed OLEDs are 61.0 cd A-1 and 18.1%, respectively. Electroluminescence was elaborately modulated by modifying the substituent in aromatic acetylide and the conformations in tetraphosphine so as to achieve cyan, green, green-yellow, yellow, and orange-red emission.

Magnetocaloric effect and thermal conductivity of Gd(OH)3 and Gd2O(OH)4(H2O)2.

Magnetocaloric effect (MCE) and thermal conductivity of two gadolinium hydroxides, Gd(OH)3 (1) and Gd2O(OH)4(H2O)2 (2), are investigated. Magnetic studies indicate that both 1 and 2 exhibit antiferromagnetic interaction, and the MCE values for 1 and 2 at 2 K and ΔH = 7 T are 62.00 J kg(-1) K(-1) and 59.09 J kg(-1) K(-1), respectively. Investigation of their thermal conductivity reveals that the thermal conductivity for 1 is significantly better than that for 2.

Beauty, symmetry, and magnetocaloric effect­four-shell keplerates with 104 lanthanide atoms.

The hydrolysis of Ln(ClO4)3 in the presence of acetate leads to the assembly of the three largest known lanthanide-exclusive cluster complexes, [Nd104(ClO4)6(CH3COO)60(µ3-OH)168(µ4-O)30(H2O)112]·(ClO4)18·(CH3CH2OH)8·xH2O (1, x ≈ 158) and [Ln104(ClO4)6(CH3COO)56(µ3-OH)168(µ4-O)30(H2O)112]·(ClO4)22·(CH3CH2OH)2·xH2O (2, Ln = Nd; 3, Ln = Gd; x ≈ 140). The structure of the common 104-lanthanide core, abbreviated as Ln8@Ln48@Ln24@Ln24, features a four-shell arrangement of the metal atoms contained in an innermost cube (a Platonic solid) and, moving outward, three Archimedean solids: a truncated cuboctahedron, a truncated octahedron, and a rhombicuboctahedron. The magnetic entropy change of ΔS(m) = 46.9 J kg(-1) K(-1) at 2 K for ΔH = 7 T in the case of the Gd104 cluster is the largest among previously known lanthanide-exclusive cluster compounds.

Molybdate templated assembly of Ln12Mo4-type clusters (Ln = Sm, Eu, Gd) containing a truncated tetrahedron core.

Three heterometallic cluster complexes {Ln(12)Mo(4)} featuring an Ln(12) core of a distorted truncated tetrahedron were synthesized with the assistance of four MoO(4)(2-) anions as ancillary ligands. Magnetic studies of the {Gd(12)Mo(4)} cluster revealed a large magnetocaloric effect due to the presence of the large number of weakly coupled Gd(III) ions.

Anisotropy of proton transport in an organic-inorganic compound [(C6H10N2)2(SO4)23H2O]n (C6H10N2 = phenylenediammonium dication).

Proton transport along different axes in an organic-inorganic compound [(C(6)H(10)N(2))(2)(SO(4))(2)·3H(2)O](n) (1) was investigated, revealing that proton transport is not only influenced by the structure of the proton transport pathway, but also by the order-disorder extent of proton carriers.

High-nuclearity 3d-4f clusters as enhanced magnetic coolers and molecular magnets.

Four 52-metal-ion 3d-4f cluster complexes featuring a common core of Ln(42)M(10) (Ln = Gd(3+), Dy(3+); M = Co(2+/3+), Ni(2+)) were obtained through self-assembly of the metal ions templated by mixed anions (ClO(4)(-) and CO(3)(2-)). Magnetic studies revealed that the Gd(42)Co(10) and Gd(42)Ni(10) clusters exhibit the largest magnetocaloric effect (MCE) among any known 3d-4f complexes. Replacement of Gd(3+) ions with anisotropic Dy(3+) ions caused significant changes in the magnetic behavior of the clusters; both Dy(42)Co(10) and Dy(42)Ni(10) displayed slow relaxation of the magnetization.