| A Study of Two Ferrocene-Based Molecular Electronic Devices |
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| Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio | |
| Apr 01 2007 | |
Transport properties were determined to have metallic characteristics.Acomputational-simulation study of two ferrocene-based molecular electronic devices was performed as part of a continuing effort to develop a capability for ab initio design of metallocene-based electronic devices in general. In addition to the obvious technological advantage for realization of the potential of molecular electronic devices, such a capability would afford an economic advantage by enabling avoidance of the cost of synthesis of many organic molecules that subsequent testing would show to be unpromising for electronic-device applications. Each of the two devices studied consisted of a single sulfur-terminated ferrocene molecule between two infinitely long gold electrodes (see figure). In one device, the molecule was 1,3'-ferrocenedithiolate and contact with the electrodes was made via the sulfur atoms on different cyclopentadienyl rings. In the other device, the molecule was 1,3-ferrocenedithiolate and contact with the electrodes was made via the two sulfur atoms on the same cyclopentadienyl ring. The structures and the electronic and electronic-transport properties of the molecules, both in isolation and as incorporated into the devices, were simulated numerically by use of a computer program that implemented a combination of density-functional theory and a nonequilibrium-Green’s-function formalism of quantum transport.  Two Single-Molecule Electronic Devices containing different ferrocenedithiolate isomers were simulated to determine expected current-versus-voltage characteristics.
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This work was done by Kanichi Nakagawara of Nihon Gene Research Laboratories Inc. for the Air Force Research Laboratory. For more information, download the Technical Support Package (free white paper) at www.defensetechbriefs.com/tsp under the Electronics/Computers category. AFRL-0006 This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
A Study of Two Ferrocene-Based Molecular Electronic (reference AFRL-0006) is currently available for download from the TSP library. Login first to download.
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