An Electric Molecular Faraday Cage

Faraday cages are essential tools for protecting conducting materials from unwanted electromagnetic radiation by redistributing charges around the cage’s exterior. When integrated into nanoscale molecular circuits, particularly those with well-defined inner cavity structures, Faraday cages isolate guest molecules from external influences, thereby improving device stability and performance. The design of molecular Faraday cages involves the intersection of molecular electronics and supramolecular chemistry with the goal of safeguarding internal molecules from harmful substances. In this study, we introduce an X-shaped octacationic cyclophane, XCage⁸⁺, as an electric molecular Faraday cage. Its spacious binding cavity allows for the encapsulation of perylene diimide molecular wires. The shielding effectiveness of XCage⁸⁺ was confirmed through electrochemical gating, demonstrating that electric fields are shielded effectively. The findings of this study provide valuable insights that could inspire the development of innovative strategies for enhancing device stability and performance at the supramolecular level, paving the way for further progress in the fields of molecular electronics and quantum devices.