I don't know the precise name or use, but it's a linear polyaromatic molecule. The thing that makes this really special is that if you put a positive charge - even a partial one will do - near the oxygen atom at the top, the entire molecule will flip states as the electron density gets drawn along, and it will end up with a positive charge at one end and a negative charge at the other.
It quite likely exists in a resonance state between the one in the graffito and the double-ion form, but that's a bit harder to draw on a lamp-post (or whatever it is). Since the bottom part's smudged, I can't tell whether it was designed for a particular application, but when I was doing my abortive PhD we were looking at extremely similar molecules as potential nanoelectronic components, with the bottom end attached to a gold substrate, and a companion molecule to flip its state on request.
I don't know the precise name or use, but it's a linear polyaromatic molecule. The thing that makes this really special is that if you put a positive charge - even a partial one will do - near the oxygen atom at the top, the entire molecule will flip states as the electron density gets drawn along, and it will end up with a positive charge at one end and a negative charge at the other.
Cool.
It quite likely exists in a resonance state between the one in the graffito and the double-ion form, but that's a bit harder to draw on a lamp-post (or whatever it is). Since the bottom part's smudged, I can't tell whether it was designed for a particular application,
I later found a second copy (smudged in different places) on the other side of the lamppost:
but when I was doing my abortive PhD we were looking at extremely similar molecules as potential nanoelectronic components, with the bottom end attached to a gold substrate, and a companion molecule to flip its state on request.
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Date: 2007-07-12 09:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-14 10:43 pm (UTC)I don't know the precise name or use, but it's a linear polyaromatic molecule. The thing that makes this really special is that if you put a positive charge - even a partial one will do - near the oxygen atom at the top, the entire molecule will flip states as the electron density gets drawn along, and it will end up with a positive charge at one end and a negative charge at the other.
It quite likely exists in a resonance state between the one in the graffito and the double-ion form, but that's a bit harder to draw on a lamp-post (or whatever it is). Since the bottom part's smudged, I can't tell whether it was designed for a particular application, but when I was doing my abortive PhD we were looking at extremely similar molecules as potential nanoelectronic components, with the bottom end attached to a gold substrate, and a companion molecule to flip its state on request.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-17 06:08 pm (UTC)I don't know the precise name or use, but it's a linear polyaromatic molecule. The thing that makes this really special is that if you put a positive charge - even a partial one will do - near the oxygen atom at the top, the entire molecule will flip states as the electron density gets drawn along, and it will end up with a positive charge at one end and a negative charge at the other.
Cool.
It quite likely exists in a resonance state between the one in the graffito and the double-ion form, but that's a bit harder to draw on a lamp-post (or whatever it is). Since the bottom part's smudged, I can't tell whether it was designed for a particular application,
I later found a second copy (smudged in different places) on the other side of the lamppost:
but when I was doing my abortive PhD we were looking at extremely similar molecules as potential nanoelectronic components, with the bottom end attached to a gold substrate, and a companion molecule to flip its state on request.
Also cool.