Silicon-pyrene/perylene hybrids as molecular rectifiers

Abstract

We have synthesized two alkenyl (C-6 and C-11 chains) pyrenes and one alkenyl (C-11 chain) perylene as the σ–π systems, which were electro-grafted on H-terminated Si surfaces to form the respective monolayers. The I–V characteristics of the monolayers revealed pronounced rectification in forward bias with a maximum rectification ratio (RR) of 2.5 × 10⁵ at 2.5 V for the C-6-pyrene 4b, 1000 at 1.5 V for the C-11-pyrene 4a and 3000–5000 at 1.75 V for the C-11-perylene 3. The higher RR of the devices containing 4b compared to those of 4a and 3 is possibly due to better alignment and packing of the 4b-monolayers on the Si substrate. The rectification was explained using the ab initio molecular-orbital calculations.