Department of Chemistry

Abstract:

Harnessing single molecule dynamics for nanotechnology Robert M. Dickson School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0400 Having found important applications in probing nanoscale biological dynamics and material heterogeneity, single molecule methods hold even greater promise as optical and electronic elements for nanoscale device applications. Crucial to future advances in molecular electronics, the harnessing of single molecule properties (quantized energy levels, unique behavior, incredibly small size …) under ambient conditions remains a significant impediment to their use. Recently, we have utilized the properties of strongly fluorescent individual Ag nanoclusters (2~8 atoms in size, or "molecular silver") to not only yield photoactivated nanomaterials,1 but also produce the first electroluminescent single molecule devices.2 These room temperature nanoscale emissive sources exhibit discrete energy levels, polarity, and transistor behavior without complicated nanofabrication. Additionally, charge injection into discrete single nanocluster energy levels yields electroluminescent interconnects, simplifying measurement and information transfer. 1 L. A. Peyser, A. E. Vinson, A. P. Bartko, and R. M. Dickson, Science, 291, 103-106 (2001). 2 T.-H. Lee, J. I. Gonzalez, and R. M. Dickson, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, In Press (2002). Host: Professor John D. Simon

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