A review of oligo(arylene ethynylene) derivatives in molecular junctions

Oligo(arylene ethynylene) (OAE) derivatives are the workhorse molecules of molecular electronics. Their ease of synthesis and flexibility of functionalisation mean that a diverse array of OAE molecular wires have been designed, synthesised and studied theoretically and experimentally in molecular junctions using both single-molecule and ensemble methods. This review summarises the breadth of molecular designs that have been investigated with emphasis on structure-property relationships with respect to the electronic conductance of OAEs. The factors considered include molecular length, connectivity, conjugation, (anti)aromaticity, heteroatom effects and quantum interference (QI). Growing interest in the thermoelectric properties of OAE derivatives, which are expected to be at the forefront of research into organic thermoelectric devices, is also explored.

Automated summary

Oligo(arylene ethynylene) (OAE) derivatives are key molecules in the field of molecular electronics, known for their ease of synthesis and flexibility in functionalization. This review summarizes the breadth of research on OAE molecular wires, focusing on the structure-property relationships related to their electronic conductance. Additionally, the growing interest in the thermoelectric properties of OAE derivatives and their potential in organic thermoelectric devices is explored.