NER: Single-Molecule Wires and Electronic Devices Based on Dimetal Complexes Containing Metal-Metal bonds

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The objectives of this research are to design, fabricate, and test molecular wires, and singlemoleculeelectronic devices, in particular diodes, light-activated switches and transistors, basedon dimetal inorganic complexes containing metal-metal bonds. These metal complexes providebetter control and tunability of electron transport properties as compared to organic moleculesused in molecular devices to date. The approach is to incorporate these complexes into varioustwo- or three-terminal nano-junctions formed by nanolithography, and to measure their electrontransport characteristics, such as rectification and amplification. The educational componentincludes a jointly developed and co-taught course to train students in molecular electronicsduring Spring 2005, as well as a one week summer workshop on instrumentation techniques.The miniaturization of current silicon-based electronic devices is approaching a limit set byphysical and economical constraints. Alternative technologies, such as molecular electronics, arerequired to overcome this limit and increase computation speed. Here, molecules are utilized asconventional electronic devices. The research proposed herein explores the feasibility of usingdimetal inorganic complexes as components in molecular electronics. If successful, the proposedresearch will open new avenues for designing molecular electronic devices and will provideinsight into the electron transport of molecules. The interdisciplinary nature of the proposedresearch will provide students with opportunities to communicate with researchers from differentfields. The nanoscale characterization and fabrication proposed in the research will give studentshands-on experience in using state-of-the-art equipment commonly used in nanoscience andtechnology. This will better prepare them for careers in this exciting research area.