Ultrafast Charge Transfer Pathways Through A Prototype Amino-Caroxylic Molecular Junction
Author(s):
Gregor Kladnik, Michele Puppin, Marcello Coreno, Monica de Simone, Luca Floreano, Alberto Verdini, Alberto Morgante, Dean Cvetko, Albano Cossaro
Journal:
Nano Letters
Year:
2016
Volume:
16
Pages
1517-2126
DOI:
10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b05231
Abstract:
Charge transport properties of a vertically stacked organic heterojunction based on the amino-carboxylic (A-C) hydrogen bond coupling scheme are investigated by means of X-ray resonant photoemission and the core-hole clock method. We demonstrate that hydrogen bonding in molecular bilayers of benzoic acid/cysteamine (BA/CA) with an A-C coupling scheme opens a site selective pathway for ultrafast charge transport through the junction. Whereas charge transport from single BA layer directly coupled to the Au(111) is very fast and it is mediated by the phenyl group, the interposition of an anchoring layer of CA selectively hinders the delocalization of electrons from the BA phenyl group but opens a fast charge delocalization route through the BA orbitals close to the A-C bond. This evidences that hydrogen bonding established upon A-C recognition can be exploited to spatially/orbitally manipulate the charge transport properties of heteromolecular junctions.