Making Metallic Contacts to Molecules

在这项由大分子、超分子和纳米化学计划资助的工作中，德克萨斯大学达拉斯分校的艾米·沃克教授和她的学生将推广和应用一种在精确位置生长纳米线的新技术。在微图案化衬底上化学沉积纳米线(ENDOM)可以制造出厘米长的纳米线，并遵循复杂的路径。在ENDOM中，多功能微图案化表面被用来通过化学沉积(ELD)来指导纳米线的生长。ENDOM是一种原位方法，不需要复杂的光刻，这两个方面都比其他方法在纳米线合成和放置方面具有显著的优势。Endom协议将被开发用于制造铜、银、镍、钯和金纳米线。我们将详细研究ENDOM的机理，特别是ELD反应物与有机薄膜中末端官能团的相互作用，以便将该方法进一步扩展到其他组成的纳米线和不同的衬底。ENDOM的实际应用将包括制造用于检测氢和氨的纳米线传感器，以及构建用于纳米电子的交叉开关电路。这项研究计划将使纳米线能够集成到实际设备中，从而极大地推动纳米技术的最先进水平。该项目通过提供电化学、设备设计、纳米科学、材料表征、光谱学和质谱学方面的经验，促进了研究生和本科生的教育和培训。参与其中的学生将获得在许多行业有价值的技能，使他们能够从各种职业中进行选择。将通过在国际和国内会议上发表演讲、在高影响因素期刊上发表文章来传播进展，并通过参与德克萨斯大学达拉斯分校多样性和社区参与办公室运营的项目向普通公众传播进展。本科生将通过达拉斯大学开办的暑期REU项目参与研究活动。

In this work, funded by the Macromolecular, Supermolecular and Nanochemistry Program, Prof. Amy Walker of the University of Texas at Dallas and her students will extend and apply a new technique for growing nanowires at precise locations. Electroless Nanowire Deposition On Micropatterned substrates (ENDOM) can create nanowires that are centimeters in length and follow complex paths. In ENDOM, a multifunctional micropatterned surface is used to direct the growth of nanowires by electroless deposition (ELD). ENDOM is an in situ method and does not require complex lithography, both significant advantages over other methods for nanowire synthesis and placement. ENDOM protocols will be developed for making copper, silver, nickel, palladium and gold nanowires. The mechanisms underlying ENDOM, in particular the interaction of ELD reactants with the terminal functional groups in organic thin films, will be studied in detail, so that the method can be further extended to nanowires of other compositions and to different substrates. Practical applications of ENDOM will include the fabrication of nanowire sensors for the detection of hydrogen and ammonia, and the construction of crossbar circuits for nanoelectronics. This research program will substantially advance the state-of-the-art in nanotechnology by enabling the integration of nanowires in practical devices. The program advances the education and training of graduate and undergraduate students by providing experience in electrochemistry, device design, nanoscience, materials characterization, spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Students involved will gain skills valuable in many industries, allowing them to choose from a variety of careers. Progress will be disseminated through presentations at international and national conferences, publication in high-impact factor journals, and to the general public via participation in programs run by the UT Dallas Office of Diversity and Community Engagement. Undergraduate students will participate in the research activities through a summer REU program run by UT Dallas.