Infinite Conducting Molecular Wires

Infinite Conducting Molecular Wires

Author: Karen Hindson

The trend to smaller and smaller electronic devices depends on the ability to reproduce the macroscale wires and switches of electric devices on a microscale for the electronic counterparts. Wires are made of many metal atoms linked together in a way that allows the passage of electrons. The thinnest conceivable wire is a string of metal atoms linked together with metal-metal bonds or through other atoms that can also transmit electrons. On the molecular scale such strings of atoms are not stable without a surrounding protection to prevent chemical reaction breaking up the chains.

It is a challenge to create long conducting chains of atoms.

Reyes Jiménez-Aparicio, University of Madrid, and colleagues have synthesized infinite chains of pairs of rhodium atoms protected by four carboxylato groups and linked by halogen atoms (Kx[Rh2X(O2CCH3)4]x•4xH2O) in a simple procedure in water, without the need for inert atmosphere. When the halogen atom is chlorine and the rhodium atom pair is partially oxidised, the [Rh2Cl(O2CCH3)4]x chains are linear. The researchers also showed that these molecular wires are conductive.

The uncomplicated preparation of infinite, conducting Rh2X wires represents a breakthrough for 1-D chain compounds and bimetallic chemistry.

AFM topographic image of the fibre of complexe 2·4H2O adsorbed on mica.


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