High nuclearity polymetallic grids and clusters- towards functional molecule based devices

使用“预编程”配体（能够结合金属离子形成更大的含金属聚集体的分子）的自组装方法用于生产特定的过渡金属簇和网格阵列，金属离子由小原子实体紧密桥接，从而允许金属中心之间的电子通信。这导致了新的电化学和磁性，这些特性正在使用这些纳米尺度的“量子点”阵列作为分子水平上信息存储和处理的设备进行研究。这种系统在有序排列和单层表面（如金、石墨）上的应用，以及使用扫描隧道技术（如STM -扫描隧道显微镜、STS -扫描隧道光谱和CITS -电流感应隧道光谱）探测单个分子和金属原子的能力，为使用外部电子和磁探针进行单个分子开关铺平了道路。以及在分子和表面阵列水平上存储信息的可能性。当前的[nxn]网格包括[2x2]， [3x3]和[4x4]系统，从而产生具有非常高的金属和不成对电子密度的纳米（2-3 x 2-3 nm）级分子。检测的金属包括Mn， Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn。人们正在尝试通过适当的配体设计进一步增加网格尺寸。

Self-assembly methods with 'pre-programmed' ligands (molecules capable of binding metal ions to form a larger metal containing aggregate) are used to produce specific transition metal cluster and grid arrays with the metal ions bridged in close proximity by small atomic entities, which allow electronic communication between the metal centres. This leads to novel electrochemical and magnetic properties, which are being examined in the context of using these nano-meter scale, 'quantum dot' like arrays as devices for information storage and processing at the molecular level. The application of such systems to surfaces (e.g. gold, graphite) in ordered arrangements and monolayers, and the ability to probe individual molecules, and metal atoms, using scanning tunneling techniques (e.g. STM - scanning tunneling microscopy, STS - scanning tunneling spectroscopy and CITS - current induced tunneling spectroscopy), has paved the way for individual molecular switching using external electronic and magnetic probes, and the possible storage of information at both the molecular and surface array level. Current [nxn] grids include [2x2], [3x3] and [4x4] systems, thus creating nanometer (2-3 x 2-3 nm) scale molecules with very high metal and unpaired electron densities. Metals examined include Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn. Attempts are underway to increase grid dimensions further with appropriate ligand design.