Effects of electrode−molecule binding and junction geometry on the single-molecule conductance of bis-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine-based complexes

Davidson, R., Al-Owaedi, O. A., Milan, D. C., Zeng, Q., Tory, J., Hartl, F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7013-5360, Higgins, S. J., Nichols, R. J., Lambert, C. J. and Low, P. J. (2016) Effects of electrode−molecule binding and junction geometry on the single-molecule conductance of bis-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine-based complexes. Inorganic Chemistry, 55 (6). pp. 2691-2700. ISSN 1520-510X doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5b02094

Abstract/Summary

The single molecule conductances of a series of bis-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine complexes featuring Ru(II), Fe(II), and Co(II) metal ions and trimethylsilylethynyl (Me3SiC C−) or thiomethyl (MeS-) surface contact groups have been determined. In the absence of electrochemical gating, these complexes behave as tunneling barriers, with conductance properties determined more by the strength of the electrode−molecule contact and the structure of the “linker” than the nature of the metal-ion or redox properties of the complex.