Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42168205›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Single-molecule electrical characterization of photoinduced aggregation evolution.

Rongqin Zhu, Xiaoyan Xu, Chenzi Li, Xuanying Chen, Ihor Sahalianov, Glib V Baryshnikov, Rui Wang, Hao Sun, Hans Ågren, Qi Zou and 2 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Rongqin Zhu *Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
Xiaoyan Xu *State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Chenzi LiState Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Xuanying ChenKey Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
Ihor SahalianovLaboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden.
Glib V BaryshnikovLaboratory of Organic Electronics, Department of Science and Technology, Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0716-3385
Rui WangKey Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
Hao SunState Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Hans ÅgrenDepartment of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Qi ZouKey Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China. zouqi@ecust.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3421-9310
Liangliang ZhuState Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. zhuliangliang@fudan.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6268-3351
He TianKey Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Joint International Research Laboratory of Precision Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3547-7485

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Elucidating the structural evolution of molecules during photoinduced aggregation remains a central challenge in molecular science, particularly in solution where aggregation processes occur dynamically. Here, we present an electrical strategy to characterize the evolution of photoinduced aggregation at the single-molecule level. Using persulfurated arenes as a model system, photoexcitation enhances intermolecular interactions that drive molecular assembly and induce conformational stabilization within aggregated species once the irradiation is halted. These stabilized conformations generate distinct ratiometric conductance signatures that can be reliably detected using scanning tunneling microscope-break junction measurements. Time-dependent irradiation experiments reveal the progressive evolution of aggregation, enabling electrical monitoring of structural changes during the assembly process. Complementary theoretical analyses further reveal the correlation between molecular geometry and conductance response. This work establishes a direct link between photoinduced aggregation evolution and single-molecule conductance, providing an electrical perspective for investigating structural dynamics in photoresponsive molecular assemblies.

Identifiers

PMID42168205
PMCPMC13381931

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.