Advancing conjugated polymers into nanometer-scale devices

Abstract

In this article, we review the possibility of combining conjugated polymers with nanometer-scale devices (nanodevices), in order to introduce the properties associated with conjugated polymers into such nanodevices. This approach envisages combining the highly topical disciplines of polymer electronics and nanoelectronics to engender a new subdirection of polymer nanoelectronics, which can serve as a tool to probe the behavior of polymer molecules at the nanometer/molecular level, and contribute to clarifying transport mechanisms in conjugated polymers. In this study, we exemplify this combination, using a family of linear and conjugated polymers, poly(p-phenylene-ethynylene)s (PPEs) with thiolacetate-functionalized end groups. © 2006 IUPAC.