Development of a Novel Method for Single Molecule Wiring

Advancing the Realization of Single Molecule Devices

2011.05.06

National Institute for Materials Science

The NIMS International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), in joint research with Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Universität Basel (Switzerland), Forschungszentrum Jülich (Germany), and University of California at Los Angeles (USA), developed a novel method, "chemical soldering", which enables us to connect single conductive polymer nanowires to individual organic molecules.

Abstract

A research teams headed by MANA Scientist Dr. Yuji Okawa and Dr. Masakazu Aono, Director General of MANA (International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics) at the National Institute for Materials Science (President: Sukekatsu Ushioda), in joint work with Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Universität Basel (Switzerland), Forschungszentrum Jülich (Germany), and University of California at Los Angeles (USA), developed a novel method, "chemical soldering", which makes it possible to connect single conductive polymer nanowires to individual organic molecules. This is a key step in advancing the development of all-molecule electronic circuit, in which each molecule performs the basic functions of electronics.
"Figure 2:Series of scanning tunneling microscope (STM) images demonstrating the chemical soldering to a single functional phthalocyanine molecule. The left image shows phthalocyanine molecules adsorbed on a molecular layer. Chain polymerizations were then initiated to connect one (center image) and two (right image) conductive polymers to a single phthalocyanine molecule. The created polymers are observed as bright lines in the images." Image

Figure 2:
Series of scanning tunneling microscope (STM) images demonstrating the chemical soldering to a single functional phthalocyanine molecule. The left image shows phthalocyanine molecules adsorbed on a molecular layer. Chain polymerizations were then initiated to connect one (center image) and two (right image) conductive polymers to a single phthalocyanine molecule. The created polymers are observed as bright lines in the images.