AVS 56th International Symposium & Exhibition
    Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Monday Sessions
       Session NS+BI-MoA

Paper NS+BI-MoA6
Structure and Electron Transport through Molecules Assembled in Multi-Component Molecular Gradient Layers

Monday, November 9, 2009, 3:40 pm, Room L

Session: Nanowires and Nanoparticles II
Presenter: N. Ballav, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
Authors: N. Ballav, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
P. Morf, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
F. Nolting, Swiss Light Source, Switzerland
F. Wrochem, Sony Deutschland GmbH, Germany
H.-G. Nothofer, Sony Deutschland GmbH, Germany
A. Yasuda, Sony Deutschland GmbH, Germany
J. Wessels, Sony Deutschland GmbH, Germany
T.A. Jung, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland
Correspondent: Click to Email
Surface molecular gradients are essential for the fast screening of molecular and cellular adhesion and motion in assays and have been used to relate molecular binding with the biological response for functional biomolecular entities. They are being used for optimizing the properties of bio-interfaces, bio-chips, bio-assays, and bio sensors, and for controlling wettability to induce movement in water droplets. Herein we present a new method to fabricate self-assembled monolayer (SAM) based multi-component molecular gradients comprising constituents with specific head or tail groups attached to different molecular backbones. We demonstrate for the first time how local (STM) and non-local (NEXAFS) methods can be combined with theoretical calculations (DFT) to draw conclusions on structure, orientation and local processes, in particular electronic conductance in the gradient layer (1). Our achievement goes beyond previous works in the ability to visualize molecular gradient layers and to study the anisotropy of physicochemical properties with laterally changing composition.