Ladderization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons enhances electrical conductivity through additional coherent channels

Abstract

Achieving high-conductance molecular devices with large scale is a fundamental challenge. While extending π-conjugation is the facile approach, significant conductance enhancement remains difficult. We demonstrate ladder-type polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via a Scholl reaction provide high conductance, as the ladder molecule 2TP exhibits conductance (10 -3.74 G 0 ) 1.36 orders higher than its non-ladder analogue. Theoretical calculations attribute this enhancement not only to the reduced HOMO-LUMO gap but predominantly to the increase coherent electron transport channels. This work establishes ladderization as a powerful strategy for constructing high-conductance molecular devices.