title: Photoinduced electron flow in a self-assembling supramolecular extension cable.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica Giacomo Ciamician, Università di Bologna, via Selmi 2, I-40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rogez
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Credi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ballardini
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Gandolfi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Balzani
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hsian-Rong
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: J Fraser
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Stoddart