Transport properties of graphene functionalized with molecular switches

J Phys Condens Matter. 2012 Oct 3;24(39):394017. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/24/39/394017. Epub 2012 Sep 11.

Abstract

We provide a theory of the electronic transport properties of a graphene layer functionalized with molecular switches. Our considerations are motivated by the spiropyran-merocyanine system which is non-polar in its ring-closed spiropyran form and zwitterionic in its ring-open merocyanine form. The reversible switching between these two isomers affects the carriers in graphene through the associated change in the molecular dipole moment, turning the graphene layer into a sensor of the molecular switching state. We present results for both the quasiclassical (Boltzmann) and the quantum coherent regimes of transport. Quite generally, we find a linear sensitivity of the conductance on the molecular dipole moment whenever quantum interference effects play an essential role which contrasts with a quadratic (and typically weaker) dependence when quantum interference is absent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't