title: Quantitative exploration of electron transfer in a single noncovalent supramolecular assembly.
abstract: Electron transfer through a noncovalent interaction bears essential relevance to the functions of bottom-up supramolecular assembly. However, rather little knowledge regarding such phenomena at the single-molecule level is currently available. Herein we report the direct quantification of electron-transfer processes for a single noncovalently linked porphyrin-fullerene dyad. Facilitated electron transfer via a charge-transfer interaction in-between was successfully measured by utilizing a fullerene molecular tip. The rectification property of the supramolecular assembly was determined and quantitatively assessed. The present study opens up a way to explore quantitatively the rich electronic properties of supramolecules at the single-molecule level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka 599-8570, Japan.
authors.forename: Phuc T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishino
authors.forename: Yojiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shiigi