Self-Organized Interconnect Method for Molecular Devices

Abstract

Lack of an appropriate method for wiring molecules that have controlled functions and structures has been a barrier for the development of molecular devices. We developed an interconnect method to program three kinds of component molecules with their own functions and to wire a molecular device in a self-organized manner. By using the interconnect method we developed, we produced conductive wires and optical switching devices and have demonstrated their device functions. Our interconnect method allows us to control various molecular device characteristics by combining the three molecules.

Single-molecule electronics: from chemical design to functional devices

“…Exploiting these particular properties, the electric conductivity of different photo-isomers of single diarylethene molecules has been studied, and experimental results were comparable to theoretical calculations. 363,[365][366][367][368][369][370] In these experiments, when the high-energy isomer is deactivated by irradiation with a specific wavelength, the molecules lose their p-conjugation and become isolators (OFF state). In the OFF state, the resistance is three orders of magnitude higher, and therefore the photo-isomerization of the molecule induces a jump in resistance that can be directly attributed to the change in the conformation of the switching molecule.…”

Toward Functional Molecular Devices Based on Graphene–Molecule Junctions

“…[6] In addition, most of the previous work relies primarily on the ex situ synthesis of molecular wires (e.g., dithiolated molecules) which are subsequently inserted into the nanogapped electrodes, [2,3] thus complicating the systems because of the strong tendency of these molecules to undergo oxidative oligomerization and aggregation. [7,8] These problems could be circumvented by developing another efficient chemical way that avoids the use of dithiolated molecules and realizes the in situ synthesis of molecular wires to bridge nanogaps. In the present work, therefore, we have accomplished two tasks: 1) We have achieved the reversible conductance switching of individual azobenzene units when they are toggled back and forth between two distinct conductive states upon exposure to different external stimuli, such as light and pH; 2) We have achieved the in situ construction of complex molecular wires through the implementation of a multiple-step reaction sequence (amide formation and coordination reaction) between molecularscale graphene point contacts.…”

Electrochemical and Photochemical Cyclization and Cycloreversion of Diarylethenes and Diarylethene-Capped Sexithiophene Wires

“…[4][5][6]10 In a different synthetic concept, introduced by Taniguchi et al, long spacers were attached between the diarylethene switch and the electrodes which helped to avoid the loss in reversibility. 22 These studies emphasize the importance of a detailed understanding of the photochemical reactions.…”