Electron-Transfer-Induced Thermal and Thermoelectric Rectification

Galen T. Craven, Dahai He, and Abraham Nitzan
Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 247704 – Published 14 December 2018
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

Controlling the direction and magnitude of both heat and electronic currents using rectifiers has significant implications for the advancement of molecular circuit design. In order to facilitate the implementation of new transport phenomena in such molecular structures, we examine thermal and thermoelectric rectification effects that are induced by an electron transfer process that occurs across a temperature gradient between molecules. Historically, the only known heat conduction mechanism able to generate thermal rectification in purely molecular environments is phononic heat transport. Here, we show that electron transfer between molecular sites with different local temperatures can also generate a thermal rectification effect and that electron hopping through molecular bridges connecting metal leads at different temperatures gives rise to asymmetric Seebeck effects, that is, thermoelectric rectification, in molecular junctions.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 8 June 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.247704

© 2018 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied PhysicsGeneral PhysicsInterdisciplinary PhysicsStatistical Physics & Thermodynamics

Authors & Affiliations

Galen T. Craven1, Dahai He2, and Abraham Nitzan1,3

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
  • 2Department of Physics and Jiujiang Research Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
  • 3School of Chemistry, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 121, Iss. 24 — 14 December 2018

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
CHORUS

Article Available via CHORUS

Download Accepted Manuscript
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×