Charge Transport in Molecular Wires and Devices

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This award to Prof. John J. Boland at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is supported by the Advanced Materials and Processing Program in the Chemistry Division and the Electronic Materials Program in the Division of Materials Research. The focus of the research is charge transport in molecular wires and devices. The methodology by which charge transport will be directly measured in large molecules, oligomers, conducting polymers and segments of conducting polymers will utilize the dual probe scanning tunneling microscope (DPSTM), a unique instrument developed by the principal investigator. For molecules whose dimensions are less that the minimum interprobe spacing, contact leads will be fabricated onto the molecules. The research will address which structures favor and which impede charge flow, where potential drops occur within molecules and their relationship to molecular structure, energy dissipation in molecules during charge transport and the effect of charge transfer at the probe-molecule interface. The ultimate limit in circuit size minimization is the development of devices with molecular dimensions, i.e., molecular electronics. This investigation will address the fundamental principles behind the transport of charge in molecules and relate electronic properties to molecular structure.