Issue 10, 2012

Controlled chain polymerisation and chemical soldering for single-molecule electronics

Abstract

Single functional molecules offer great potential for the development of novel nanoelectronic devices with capabilities beyond today's silicon-based devices. To realise single-molecule electronics, the development of a viable method for connecting functional molecules to each other using single conductive polymer chains is required. The method of initiating chain polymerisation using the tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) is very useful for fabricating single conductive polymer chains at designated positions and thereby wiring single molecules. In this feature article, developments in the controlled chain polymerisation of diacetylene compounds and the properties of polydiacetylene chains are summarised. Recent studies of “chemical soldering”, a technique enabling the covalent connection of single polydiacetylene chains to single functional molecules, are also introduced. This represents a key step in advancing the development of single-molecule electronics.

Graphical abstract: Controlled chain polymerisation and chemical soldering for single-molecule electronics

Article information

Article type
Feature Article
Submitted
31 Jan 2012
Accepted
05 Mar 2012
First published
19 Apr 2012

Nanoscale, 2012,4, 3013-3028

Controlled chain polymerisation and chemical soldering for single-molecule electronics

Y. Okawa, M. Akai-Kasaya, Y. Kuwahara, S. K. Mandal and M. Aono, Nanoscale, 2012, 4, 3013 DOI: 10.1039/C2NR30245D

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