Molecular receptors are being envisioned as functional building blocks for the creation of advanced materials that respond to their chemical and physical environment. However, the details of the molecular-level designs of the ion binding events underpinning such functions are only now being investigated. We are elaborating two types of ion-binding systems that respond to voltage. In the first, and with the aid of single-molecule techniques like scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we are investigating how anions bind inside the molecular receptors that have been organized into 2D arrays on solution-graphite interfaces. We see instances where addition of the anion drives switching of the surface morphology. The ionic character of the array allows the STM surface bias to locally switch the structure by ejecting or attracting anions to the solution-surface interface. In the second, we make use of ensemble measurements using electrochemistry to activate substituted tetrazines by electron transfer. We are unraveling how those electrogenerated tetrazine anions recruit cations or macrocycles to become stabilized. In both cases, the ions sensitize the multi-molecule assemblies to voltage inputs. The findings of these investigations will be discussed. <br/>

Voltage-gated switching of anion-molecule assemblies at interfaces and in solution

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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