Azulene-bridged Organometallics: New Platforms for Charge Delocalization and Transport at the Nanoscale

该项目由化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学计划资助，堪萨斯大学的Mikhail Barybin教授将研究2，6-天青框架内的电荷离域和传输。方法是合成以异氰基、硫醇或氰基为端基的新型偶氮化合物和双偶氮化合物；在金属表面形成并表征这些化合物的自组装单分子膜(SAM)和纳米接枝图案；合成和研究这些配体的离散金属络合物以了解配体与金属离子的相互作用；为了探索偶氮化合物和双偶氮化合物SAM薄膜的导电性，更广泛的影响包括在跨学科的研究环境中培训本科生和研究生，开发一门新的关于“纳米技术革命”的新生荣誉课程，以及与东北州立大学(主要是美国原住民学生机构)合作，将学生带到堪萨斯大学进行本科生研究体验。使用分子进行计算有可能产生耗电很少的超小型设备；然而，要实现分子水平设备的好处，必须克服许多重大的技术障碍。这项工作将进一步加深我们对分子如何在两个触点之间传输电荷的理解，并将为开发与包括有机电子在内的各种纳米技术领域相关的先进材料提供新的平台。这项工作还可能影响太阳能电池、分子开关和导电聚合物的设计。

This project funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Mikhail Barybin of the University of Kansas will study charge delocalization and transport within the 2,6-azulenic framework. The approach is to synthesize novel azulenic and bis-azulenic molecules linearly terminated with isocyano, mercapto, or cyano groups; to form and characterize self-assembled monolayer (SAM) films and nanografted patterns of these compounds on metal surfaces; to synthesize and study discrete metal complexes of these ligands to understand the ligand interactions with metal ions; and to probe the conductivity of the azulenic and bis-azulenic SAM films The broader impacts involve training undergraduate and graduate students in an interdisciplinary research environment, developing a new freshman honors course on the "Nanotech Revolution," and working with Northeastern State University (a predominantly Native American student institution) to bring students to the University of Kansas for undergraduate research experiences.Computing using molecules has the potential to generate ultrasmall devices that use little power; however, many significant technical hurdles must be overcome to realize the benefits of molecular level devices. This work will further our understanding how molecules transport charges between two contacts and will afford novel platforms for developing advanced materials relevant to a variety of nanotechnological areas, including organic electronics. Such work could also impact the design of solar cells, molecular switches, and conducting polymers.