Journal of the American Chemical Society
Journal of the American Chemical Society
5 years ago

Robust Bipolar Light Emission and Charge Transport in Symmetric Molecular Junctions

Robust Bipolar Light Emission and Charge Transport in Symmetric Molecular Junctions
Frederic Lafolet, Richard L. McCreery, Ushula M. Tefashe, Quyen Van Nguyen, Jean-Christophe Lacroix
Molecular junctions consisting of a Ru(bpy)3 oligomer between conducting carbon contacts exhibit an exponential dependence of junction current on molecular layer thickness (d) similar to that observed for other aromatic devices when d < 4 nm. However, when d > 4 nm, a change in transport mechanism occurs which coincides with light emission in the range of 600–900 nm. Unlike light emission from electrochemical cells or solid-state films containing Ru(bpy)3, emission is bipolar, occurs in vacuum, has rapid rise time (<5 ms), and persists for >10 h. Light emission directly indicates simultaneous hole and electron injection and transport, possibly resonant due to the high electric field present (>3 MV/cm). Transport differs fundamentally from previous tunneling and hopping mechanisms and is a clear “molecular signature” relating molecular structure to electronic behavior.

Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jacs.7b02563

DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b02563

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