Controlled Integration of Functionalized Janus-Nanoparticles

• Applicants: Dr.-Ing. Silvia Karthäuser; Professor Dr. Ulrich Simon
• Subject Area: Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis ; Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: from 2015 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 279868994

One major goal of molecular electronics is the integration nanoelements, like molecularly functionalized metal nanoparticles, into traditional CMOS circuitry to enable additional functionality. However, todays challenge is to control exactly the electronic function of the molecule-metal junction by design. We aim to solve this problem by the directed immobilization of divalent bifunctional (Janus-type) nanoparticles in between heterometallic nanoelectrodes. Hereby, the organic/metal interfaces will be tuned in such a way that a diode function is created reliably by directed assembly of a single Janus-nanoparticle. Furthermore, the self-assembly of organic molecules in situ in order to build a molecular wire with controlled contact to the counter-electrode is foreseen. At the same moment, this organic molecular wire implies an intrinsic switching functionality which can be addressed by optical or electrical means. Thus, finally a functional unit with switching and rectifying ability will be created, which shall serve as a proof-of-concept for a new type of hybrid molecular electronic devices.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants