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Electrochemical epitaxial polymerization of single-molecular wires

Nature Materials volume 3, pages 551–557 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

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.

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Figure 1: Electrochemical property of the BuOMT monomer.
Figure 2: Electrochemical epitaxial polymerization of single-polythiophene wires.
Figure 3: Iodine adlayer on Au.
Figure 4: Normal electropolymerization without iodine as a control experiment.
Figure 5: Mechanism of electrochemical epitaxial polymerization.
Figure 6: Dependence of the polymer shape on the monomer type.
Figure 7: Movement and blinking of single polythiophene.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by Research Foundation of the Tokyo Electric Power Company, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and Support Center for Advanced Telecommunications Technology Research.

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  1. Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, Johoku, 432-8011, Hamamatsu, Japan

    Hiroshi Sakaguchi, Hisashi Matsumura & Hui Gong

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  1. Hiroshi Sakaguchi
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  2. Hisashi Matsumura
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Correspondence to Hiroshi Sakaguchi.

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Sakaguchi, H., Matsumura, H. & Gong, H. Electrochemical epitaxial polymerization of single-molecular wires. Nature Mater 3, 551–557 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat1176

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