Orthogonally Self-Assembled Nanoparticle Heterodimers

As silicon technology is scaled down out of the bulk
regime, quantum effects begin to dominate electronic
behavior. Because of this, molecular electronics is
becoming an increasingly important area of research.
Several challenges need to be overcome before
molecular electronics can be a viable replacement for
silicon components. A major challenge is establishing
a method for insertion of these devices intopatterned circuits. Orthogonal self-assembly is a
technique that would allow for precise placement of a
molecule of interest into a circuit. This technique
utilizes the preference of one adsorbant to bind to a
specific substrate over another. Thus, a molecule
that contains terminal groups with different
functionalities can only be inserted in one
particular orientation. This work details the
synthesis and characterization of novel bifunctional
linear linker molecules that were used to bind gold
and platinum nanoparticles using orthogonal
self-assembly. These heterodimers were created as a
model for the possibility of using similar bimetallic
structures as molecular electronic components.

Autorentext

Brandon R. Walker, studied Chemistry at the University of NorthCarolina - Chapel Hill and received a MS degree in Chemistry fromNorth Carolina State University. Currently working in the fieldof nanomaterials.

Klappentext

As silicon technology is scaled down out of the bulkregime, quantum effects begin to dominate electronicbehavior. Because of this, molecular electronics isbecoming an increasingly important area of research.Several challenges need to be overcome beforemolecular electronics can be a viable replacement forsilicon components. A major challenge is establishinga method for insertion of these devices intopatterned circuits. Orthogonal self-assembly is atechnique that would allow for precise placement of amolecule of interest into a circuit. This techniqueutilizes the preference of one adsorbant to bind to aspecific substrate over another. Thus, a moleculethat contains terminal groups with differentfunctionalities can only be inserted in oneparticular orientation. This work details thesynthesis and characterization of novel bifunctionallinear linker molecules that were used to bind goldand platinum nanoparticles using orthogonalself-assembly. These heterodimers were created as amodel for the possibility of using similar bimetallicstructures as molecular electronic components.