| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R12244/01 |
| Title: |
Molecular Rectification Using Symmetrical Gold Electrodes |
| Principal Investigator: |
Ashwell, Professor G |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Engineering |
| Organisation: |
Cranfield University |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 April 2001 |
Ends: |
31 March 2004 |
Value (£): |
163,934
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
Materials Synthesis & Growth |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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30 Oct 2000
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Electronics, Communications & Functional Material
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Deferred
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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There have been few experimental reports of molecular rectification, the first being by Sambles at Exeter (Phys. Rev. Lett. 1993, 70, 218) and more recently by Metzger at Alabama (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 10455). They studied a zwitterionic material, designed and synthesised at Cranfield, but were unable to use unreactive gold electrodes. To prevent shorting, the top electrode was chosen from metals with low sublimation temperatures and then, either the electrode configuration is asymmetric (eg Au/organic/Mg) or, if both top and bottom are the same, they readily oxidise in air (eg Al/organic/Al). Consequently, an unambiguous assignment of the current-voltage curves is not possible whereas, at Cranfield, we have recently demonstrated molecular rectification using an Au/(organic layer)/Au structure where the active organic layer is a Langmuir-Blodgett film (Nature, submitted for publication). The device has a high rectification ratio of 70 at a relatively low electric field of 3 MV/m and, for the first time, the asymmetric current-voltage characteristics may be assigned to the molecular layer. Based upon this discovery, the principal aim is to systematically design and synthesise a series of molecular diodes and to improve the rectification from Au/organic/Au structures where the organic layer is either self-assembled or a Langmuir-Blodgett film.The Japanese Bureaucratic Fund has provided support for a long-term Japanese visitor to work on molecular scale electronic devices at Cranfield and, therefore, it is not necessary to apply for funding for personnel. A Cranfield quota studentship will also be used to support his work.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.cranfield.ac.uk |