Oligomeric Metallocenes for Molecular Electronics

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Oligomers consisting of multiple covalently linked metallocene units are a promising class of materials for potential application in molecular electronic devices. This project will focus in the synthesis of tailor-made metallocene oligomers featuring two or three metallocene units in a linear fashion, or six metallocene units in cyclic oligomers. Special emphasis will be on a thorough and generalized understanding of the ways in which the individual redox active metal centres within the oligomeric structure communicate and how this communication affects the overall electronic and electrochemical properties, including accessibility of distinct redox states and the degree of spin delocalization. Therefore, different variants of the bimetallocene and trimetallocene as well as of the hexameric ring will be prepared by varying the central metals. Isolation of chemically oxidized species will afford paramagnetic, mixed valent compounds, that allow for inisght into delocalization effects. Suitable building blocks for the deposition as thin films will then be chosen based on their properties on a molecular level. This bottom-up approach will lead to directed preparation of thin films with predictable properties (e.g. no or high conductivity). The resulting films will be characterized by a number of techniques (such as AFM, SEM) from a materials scientist´s point of view, highlighting the interdisciplinary approach of this project. Potentially switchable properties such as conductivity will be addressed by applying voltages or oxidating/ redcuing conditions to the resulting materials, making the new class of materials promising candidates for applications in molecular electronic devices, such as moleular switches, sensors, and wires.