Magnetic field control of the current through molecular ring junctions

Dhurba Rai, Oded Hod*, Abraham Nitzan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2118-2124
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Volume2
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Sep 2011

Funding

FundersFunder number
European Commission
Seventh Framework Programme226628

    Keywords

    • Electron Transport
    • Hard Matter
    • Optical and Electronic Devices

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