Photoinduced electron flow in a self-assembling supramolecular extension cable.
We report the design, bottom-up construction, characterization, and operation of a supramolecular system capable of mimicking the function played by a macroscopic electrical extension cable. The system is made up of a light-powered electron source, an electron drain, and a cable as the molecular components programmed to self-assemble by means of two distinct plug/socket junctions. Such connections are reversible and can be operated independently by orthogonal chemical inputs. In the source-connector-drain supermolecule, photoinduced electron transfer from source to drain occurs, and it can be switched off by dual-mode chemically controlled disassembling of the molecular components.
Ferrer
Belén
B
Dipartimento di Chimica Giacomo Ciamician, Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, I-40126 Bologna, Italy.
Rogez
Guillaume
G
Credi
Alberto
A
Ballardini
Roberto
R
Gandolfi
Maria Teresa
MT
Balzani
Vincenzo
V
Liu
Yi
Y
Tseng
Hsian-Rong
HR
Stoddart
J Fraser
JF