Searching the Hearts of Graphene-like Molecules for Simplicity, Sensitivity, and Logic.
If quantum interference patterns in the hearts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons could be isolated and manipulated, then a significant step toward realizing the potential of single-molecule electronics would be achieved. Here we demonstrate experimentally and theoretically that a simple, parameter-free, analytic theory of interference patterns evaluated at the mid-point of the HOMO-LUMO gap (referred to as M-functions) correctly predicts conductance ratios of molecules with pyrene, naphthalene, anthracene, anthanthrene, or azulene hearts. M-functions provide new design strategies for identifying molecules with phase-coherent logic functions and enhancing the sensitivity of molecular-scale interferometers.
Quantum Technology Centre, Lancaster University , Lancaster LA1 4YB, U.K.
Sara
S
Sangtarash
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern , CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Cancan
C
Huang
Quantum Technology Centre, Lancaster University , Lancaster LA1 4YB, U.K.
Hatef
H
Sadeghi
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern , CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Gleb
G
Sorohhov
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern , CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Jürg
J
Hauser
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern , CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Thomas
T
Wandlowski
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern , CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Wenjing
W
Hong
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern , CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Silvio
S
Decurtins
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern , CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland.
Shi-Xia
SX
Liu
Quantum Technology Centre, Lancaster University , Lancaster LA1 4YB, U.K.
Colin J
CJ
Lambert