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Active and Non-Active Large-Area Metal–Molecules–Metal Junctions

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Unimolecular and Supramolecular Electronics II

Part of the book series: Topics in Current Chemistry ((TOPCURRCHEM,volume 313))

Abstract

The study of charge transport processes through organic molecules by using molecular junctions has generated great attention in the last few years, partially triggered by the possibility of developing molecular electronic devices to be implemented somehow into current silicon-based technology. As experimental tools, a large variety of conceptually and geometrically different metal–molecule(s)–metal junctions has been proposed. While the intrinsic conductivity of a molecule is still elusive, parameters crucial for molecular electronics have been extracted by using a variety of junctions. Significantly, the results extracted from molecular junctions and those obtained by the kinetic approach in supramolecular D–B–A systems are complementary. For the sake of a practical discussion, a distinction is made between “active junctions” and “non-active junctions”. Active junctions are those aimed at switching the electrical response by an external stimulus acting “in situ” to modify the electronic structure of the molecular system. Non-active junctions are those aimed at studying different conduction regimes by incorporating molecules of different electronic structures. Depending on their geometry, the junctions can incorporate different numbers of molecules. Large area molecular junctions present two main advantages: (1) a simpler assembly, by requiring less sophisticated fabrication and (2) a higher versatility, relative to single molecule junctions, towards potential applications in organic electronics. The present chapter focuses on the fabrication of a variety of large-area molecular junctions and summarizes and compares the experimental results.

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Abbreviations

AZO:

Azobenzene

BJs:

Break junctions

c-AFM:

Conductive atomic force microscopy

CT:

Charge transfer

CWJs:

Cross wires based junctions

DAE:

Diarylethene

D–B–A:

Donor–molecular bridge–acceptor supramolecular system

E-GaIn:

Metal eutectic Ga–In (75% Ga 25% In)

ET:

Electron transfer

HBC:

Hexabenzocoronene

HS-C10-Ru:

HS(CH2)10CONHCH2pyRu(NH3)5(PF6)2

IJs:

Interlayer based junctions

LAJs:

Large area junctions

LB:

Langmuir–Blodgett

M–B–M:

Metal–molecular bridge–metal (junction)

MCMWs:

Metal centre molecular wires

OPh:

Oligophenylene

PEDOT:PSS:

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(4-styrenesulphonic acid)

PPV:

Poly[(m-phenylenevinylene)-co-(2,5-dioctoxy-p-phenylenevinylene)]

STMJs:

Scanning tunnelling microscope junctions

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  1. Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Ferrara, Ferrara, 44100, Italy

    Barbara Branchi, Felice C. Simeone & Maria A. Rampi

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  1. Barbara Branchi
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  2. Felice C. Simeone
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  1. , Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama, Office 210A, Lloyd Hall, Tuscaloosa, 35487, USA

    Robert M. Metzger

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Branchi, B., Simeone, F.C., Rampi, M.A. (2011). Active and Non-Active Large-Area Metal–Molecules–Metal Junctions. In: Metzger, R. (eds) Unimolecular and Supramolecular Electronics II. Topics in Current Chemistry, vol 313. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/128_2011_221

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