A novel design for porphyrin based D–s–A systems as molecular rectifiers

Abstract

Two Si-based hybrid self-assembled monolayers of porphyrin based on a D–s–A system were synthesized by electro-grafting. The monolayers showed a stable and reversible rectification at room temperature. The monolayer fabricated using a porphyrin with an eleven-carbon alkyl chain linker was comparatively more compact and exhibited a 10⁵ times higher rectification ratio (RR) relative to another similar system that had a six-carbon alkyl chain linker, possibly because of the compact packing.