Molecular three-terminal wires

The abihty to measure and to control charge transport across nanometer-scale metal-molecule-metal junctions represents a key step toward the realization of molecular-based electronics [190-192]. Various experimental approaches have been employed to study molecular junctions in two- and three-terminal configurations. These include scanning probe microscopies (STM, STS, CP-AFM) [193-208], crossed-wire junctions [209], mechanical [210-215] and electromigration [216,217] break junctions, nanopores [218] and mercury drop electrodes [219]. Approaches in condensed media, and in par-... 

Scheme 3.24 Synthesis of three-terminal molecular wire 32.

Syntheses of Three-Terminal Molecular Scale Wires... 

In this chapter, we presented three different systems of molecular assemblies using molecular wires. The first involved the fabrication of the molecular wire system with metal complex oligomer or polymer wires composed of bis(terpyridine)metal complexes using the bottom-up method. This system showed characteristic electron transfer distinct from conventional redox polymers. The second involved the fabrication of a photoelectric conversion system using ITO electrodes modified with porphyrin-terminated bis(terpyr-idine)metal complex wires by the stepwise coordination method, which demonstrated that the electronic nature of the molecular wire is critical to the photoelectron transfer from the porphyrin to ITO. This system proposed a new, facile fabrication method of molecular assemblies effective for photoelectron transfer. The third involved the fabrication of a bioconjugated photonic system composed of molecular wires and photosystem I. The feasibility of the biophotosensor and the biophotoelectrode has been demonstrated. This system proposed that the bioconjugation and the surface bottom-up fabrication of molecular wires are useful approaches in the development of biomo-lecular devices. These three systems of molecular assemblies will provide unprecedented functional molecular devices with desired structures and electron transfer control. 

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