Implications and Applications of Current-Induced Dynamics in Molecular Junctions

摘要

Innstances of strongly nonadiabatic electronicnvibrational energy transfer have been stud-nied since the early days of quantum mechanicsnand remain a topic of fundamental interest.nOften such transfers are associated with elec-ntronic resonances, temporary states wherentransient localization of charge on the mole-ncule provides a mechanism for channeling elec-ntronic energy into vibrational excitation.nExtensively studied in the gas phase, electronnresonance scattering also occurs with surfacenadsorbed molecules, where it manifests itself innbroadened cross sections and desorption ofnadsorbates from metal surfaces. In this Account, we focus on a related topic: the implications of nonadiabatic, resonance-nmediated scattering to the exciting field of molecular electronics. In this context, researchers can induce directed nuclearndynamics and control these processes in single molecules in contact with metallic and semiconducting electrodes.