Abstract
Polymer industries depend on the spontaneous polymerization of molecules into chains in response to an appropriate trigger. We have succeeded in inducing and guiding chain polymerization over tiny distances, initiating and terminating linear propagation at any chosen point to a spatial precision of about 1 nm by using the probe tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope. Being able to exert such fine control over nanoscale fabrication and interconnection should help to take molecular nanoelectronics beyond the present silicon-based-device technology.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Wegner, G. Z. Naturforsch. B 24, 824–832 (1969).
Wegner, G. Makromol. Chem. 154, 35–48 (1972).
Tieke, B., Lieser, G. & Wegner, G. J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Chem. Ed. 17, 1631–1644 (1979).
Donovan, K. J., Sudiwala, R. V. & Wilson, E. G. Thin Solid Films 210/211, 271–273 (1992).
Day, D. R. & Lando, J. B. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 26, 1605–1612 (1981).
Albrecht, T. R. et al. Appl. Phys. Lett. 55, 1727–1729 (1989).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Okawa, Y., Aono, M. Nanoscale control of chain polymerization. Nature 409, 683–684 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35055625
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35055625
This article is cited by
-
Self-assembly and photoinduced fabrication of conductive nanographene wires on boron nitride
Nature Communications (2022)
-
Controlled assemblies of conjugated polymers in metal−organic frameworks
Polymer Journal (2022)
-
Solid catalysts for the dehydrogenation of long-chain alkanes: lessons from the dehydrogenation of light alkanes and homogeneous molecular catalysis
Science China Chemistry (2022)
-
Constructing covalent organic nanoarchitectures molecule by molecule via scanning probe manipulation
Nature Chemistry (2021)
-
Aromatic hydrocarbon belts
Nature Chemistry (2021)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.