Electron Transfer Inside a Decaferrocenylated Rotaxane Analyzed by Fast Scan Cyclic Voltammetry and Impedance Spectroscopy

The electrochemical behavior of a giant rotaxane bearing 10 electroactive ferrocene centers has been analyzed by both fast scan cyclic voltammetry and impedance measurements. The measurements support the hypothesis that all redox centers are not equivalent and display different electron transfer rate constants, which would arise from several possible conformations of the adsorbed molecule. Effectively using such systems in molecular devices thus necessitates to minimize or at least control those dispersions.