Charge Transport in Molecular Wires and Devices

这一奖项授予北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校的John J.Boland教授，由化学部的先进材料和加工计划以及材料研究部的电子材料计划提供支持。研究的重点是分子导线和分子器件中的电荷输运。直接测量大分子、低聚物、导电聚合物和导电聚合物链段的电荷传输的方法将利用双探针扫描隧道显微镜(DPSTM)，这是首席研究人员开发的一种独特仪器。对于尺寸小于最小探针间距的分子，将在分子上制造接触引线。这项研究将讨论哪些结构有利于和哪些阻碍电荷流动，分子内发生电势降的位置及其与分子结构的关系，分子在电荷传输过程中的能量耗散，以及探针-分子界面的电荷转移的影响。电路尺寸最小化的终极限制是发展分子尺寸的器件，即分子电子学。这项研究将解决分子中电荷传输背后的基本原理，并将电子性质与分子结构联系起来。

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.