AVS 46th International Symposium
    Surface Science Division Thursday Sessions
       Session SS1+AS+BI-ThM

Invited Paper SS1+AS+BI-ThM5
Controlling the Placement of Molecules in the Self Assembly and Directed Assembly of Organic Monolayers

Thursday, October 28, 1999, 9:40 am, Room 606

Session: Self-Assembled Monolayers
Presenter: P.S. Weiss, The Pennsylvania State University
Authors: P.S. Weiss, The Pennsylvania State University
D.L. Allara, The Pennsylvania State University
L.A. Bumm, The Pennsylvania State University
J.J. Jackiw, The Pennsylvania State University
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We manipulate and measure the structures of monolayer films in order to tune their properties. This is accomplished by controlling the defect type and density in the films. We then process the films to insert single molecules, to insert bundles of molecules, or to graft new molecular terraces onto existing domains by using these defects to advantage. The inserted molecules can serve as the anchor points for polymerization; this allows us to choose to produce single polymer dots or isolated polymer brushes. We connect our scanning tunneling microscopy measurements to electron transfer phenomena which are ubiquitous in such areas as biochemistry and electrochemistry by separating the transconductance into components arising from transport through the molecule vs. the tunneling gap outside the film. We show how these components can be measured independently. We prepare films predicted to have many equivalent defect sites so as to provide identical matrix isolation environments for single molecular wire candidates. We also prepare films with well defined interfaces between separated components so that insertion, deposition, or reaction can be directed to these molecularly sharp boundaries.