Electronic properties of fused donor-acceptor ensembles in solutions and on surfaces

Shi-Xia Liu and Silvio Decurtins

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland

Organic and molecular electronics have received tremendous attention due to the versatility of chemical synthesis and possibility to produce low-cost, large-area, lightweight and flexible devices. A range of π-conjugated donor-acceptor (D-A) ensembles by appropriate functionalization of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and benzodifuran (BDF) cores has been prepared, showing fascinating redox and optical properties. On the other hand, a significant progress in the fields of surface science and nanotechnology has mainly been facilitated by single-molecule characterization techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Particularly, the chemical structures of individual molecules have been resolved by AFM via the functionalization of the tip. As a consequence, characterization and visualization of on-surface chemical reaction products and charge distribution within the adsorbed single molecules have been highly motivated. Moreover, different molecules were explored in diverse confined environments, all a topical issue in the field of molecular electronics. This presentation puts emphasis on electronic properties of D-A ensembles in solutions including single-molecule junctions as well as on surfaces.