Six unimolecular rectifiers and what lies ahead

Abstract

Six unimolecular rectifiers are discussed: γ-hexadecylquinolinium tricyanoquinodimethanide, 1, and two thioacetyl derivatives of 1, namely (Z)-α-cyano-β- [N-tetradecylthioacetylquinolin-4-ylium)-4-styryl-dicyanomethanide, 2, and (Z)-α-cyano-β- [N-hexadecylthioacetylquinolin-4-ylium)-4-styryl-dicyanom ethanide, 3, and three other rectifiers of very different structure: 2,6-di [dibutylaminophenylvinyl]-1-butylpyridinium iodide, 4, dimethylanilino-aza[C60]-fullerene, 5, and fullerene-bis- [4-diphenylamino-4"-(N-ethyl-N-2"'-ethyl)amino-1, 4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene] malonate, 6. Monolayers of these molecules exhibit asymmetric electrical conductivity between Au or Al electrodes. We also suggest approaches towards one-molecule electronic devices, useful for the ultimate reduction in circuit sizes. © Springer 2006.