Researchers from the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology successfully designed a pyridinium salt molecule that is critical for molecular electronics. The molecule's key feature is its ability to perform reversible electrical switching even when immobilized on a surface.
“The importance of this work lies in the fact that there are numerous redox molecules that can perform this switching when dissolved in solution. However, when a molecule is confined to a surface—a necessary step for molecular electronic devices—this crucial switching capacity is usually deactivated,” explained Dr. Ingrid Ponce, a researcher at the University of Santiago. “Our success was in designing a molecule that retains this function even when immobilized.”
The research is highly significant due to the vast potential these molecules have for the future of technology. Their unique electrical switching potential makes them fundamental components for next-generation molecular electronic devices. This breakthrough could ultimately lead to the creation of truly smart materials, more accessible, cleaner energy solutions, and the manufacturing of smaller, more efficient, and sustainable electronics in the future.
The journal featuring this study on its cover, Nanoscale Horizons, is a high-impact publication from the Royal Society of Chemistry. It is recognized as a leading journal in the fields of nanoscience and nanotechnology, known for publishing works of "exceptionally high quality" that prioritize original research demonstrating a new concept or a new way of thinking.
Dr. Ponce added that the significance of the work was confirmed by external experts: “Our study was evaluated by reviewers as being among the top 5% of the most relevant studies in its field. This outstanding recognition strongly reinforces the quality and global impact of the nanoscience research carried out here at the University of Santiago.”
The highly qualified team responsible for this significant study reflects strong international and inter-institutional collaboration. Key contributors include Dr. Gloria Cárdenas (Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, Usach), Dr. Ana María Méndez (alumna of the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, now at Universidad Central), Dr. Diego Cortes (UTEM), and Dr. Nadim Darwish (Curtin University, Australia). The team also includes researcher Rubén Oñate and the dedicated Usach Chemistry PhD students Dany S. Monje and Ana Pizarro.
The groundbreaking research was conducted entirely at the University of Santiago, Chile (Usach), specifically within the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology. This significant study received essential funding and support through the Fondecyt Regular Project No. 1251260.