Being able to effectively tune the electron-transport properties of a single-molecule has been a long-standing issue towards the crystallization of molecular electronics, where individual molecules mimic the behavior of common electronic components as a true alternative to conventional silicon devices. To functionalize electron transport properties, each and every individual molecule must be precisely aligned in place with sub-nanometer precision. In that sense, stacks of self-assembled aromatic components in which non-covalently bound π-stacks act as replaceable modular components are promising building blocks.
Ref: Rectifying electron-transport properties through stacks of aromatic molecules inserted into a self-assembled cage. Journal of the American Chemical Society (2015) | DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b00086