TY - JOUR
T1 - Magnetic field control of the current through molecular ring junctions
AU - Rai, Dhurba
AU - Hod, Oded
AU - Nitzan, Abraham
PY - 2011/9/1
Y1 - 2011/9/1
N2 - Whereas conducting loops are, in principle, sensitive to external magnetic field, as is pronouncedly exemplified by the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect, the small radius of molecular rings makes the observation of such effects challenging. Indeed, the unrealistically large magnetic field needed to realize the AB effect in molecular rings has led to a widespread belief that molecular conduction is insensitive to laboratory realizable fields. Here we revisit this issue, presenting conditions under which magnetic field control of molecular ring conduction is realizable with pronounced effects on the I-V characteristics. We find these conditions to be (a) weak molecule-lead coupling, implying relatively distinct conduction resonances, (b) asymmetric junction structure (e.g., meta- or ortho-connected benzene rather than a para structure), and (c) minimal dephasing (implying low temperature) so as to maintain coherence between multiple pathways of conduction.
AB - Whereas conducting loops are, in principle, sensitive to external magnetic field, as is pronouncedly exemplified by the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect, the small radius of molecular rings makes the observation of such effects challenging. Indeed, the unrealistically large magnetic field needed to realize the AB effect in molecular rings has led to a widespread belief that molecular conduction is insensitive to laboratory realizable fields. Here we revisit this issue, presenting conditions under which magnetic field control of molecular ring conduction is realizable with pronounced effects on the I-V characteristics. We find these conditions to be (a) weak molecule-lead coupling, implying relatively distinct conduction resonances, (b) asymmetric junction structure (e.g., meta- or ortho-connected benzene rather than a para structure), and (c) minimal dephasing (implying low temperature) so as to maintain coherence between multiple pathways of conduction.
KW - Electron Transport
KW - Hard Matter
KW - Optical and Electronic Devices
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80052389226&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1021/jz200862r
DO - 10.1021/jz200862r
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AN - SCOPUS:80052389226
SN - 1948-7185
VL - 2
SP - 2118
EP - 2124
JO - Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
JF - Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
IS - 17
ER -