Functional oligothiophenes toward molecular wires in single-molecular electronics

Abstract

The synthesis of 3-hexylthiophene-based oligothiophenes with a length of approximately 10 nm bearing anchor units at both terminal positions has been accomplished. In addition, we have designed and synthesized completely encapsulated oligothiophenes to investigate single-molecule conductance. Their properties are evaluated by UV-vis absorption spectra and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. The conductance of a singlemolecule junction for thiol-introduced oligothiophenes was measured by 10-nm-scale nanogap gold electrodes or modified scanning tunneling microscope (STM) techniques. © 2012 IUPAC.