Electrochemical epitaxial polymerization of single-molecular wires.
The fabrication of organized molecular-scale structures is key to realizing high-performance molecular- and conjugated-polymer devices. Here, we demonstrate a unique single-molecular processing technique using electrochemistry, termed 'electrochemical epitaxial polymerization'. This technique is based on step-by-step electropolymerization of the monomer by applying voltage pulses to a monomer-electrolyte solution that also contains iodine. Using this technique, we observe the formation of high-density arrays of single conjugated-polymer wires as long as 75 nm on the surface of a Au(111) electrode. Our findings unveil the mechanism of electropolymerization, showing that the conjugated polymer wires grow from nuclei adsorbed on the iodine-covered Au(111) surface. The results may also open the door to mass-production of molecular-scale devices based on conjugated polymers.
Sakaguchi
Hiroshi
H
Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, Johoku, Hamamatsu 432-8011, Japan. sakaguchi@rie.shizuoka.ac.jp
Matsumura
Hisashi
H
Gong
Hui
H
D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D003461:Crystallography / Q000379:methods; D004559:Electric Wiring; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D007455:Iodine / Q000737:chemistry; D008420:Manufactured Materials; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D008669:Metallurgy / Q000379:methods; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012666:Semiconductors; D013499:Surface Properties; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000737:chemistry*
D011108:Polymers; D013876:Thiophenes; C066730:polythiophene; D007455:Iodine