Synthesis of Fluorinated Oligomers toward Physical Vapor Deposition Molecular Electronics Candidates

New electron-deficient fluorinated oligo(phenylene ethynylenes) (OPEs) with varied functional groups were synthesized as free thiols, nitriles, and pyridines, ready to be used for surface adhesion. Calculated dipole moments suggest better matching between energy levels of bulk interfaces and molecular frontier orbitals when compared to nonfluorinated OPEs. Differential scanning calorimetry confirmed a higher thermal stability than the nonfluorinated counterparts. Surface analysis by ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, cyclic voltammetry, and surface infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy verified that the OPEs chemisorb on Au and Pt surfaces. On the basis of the physical properties of the fluorinated OPEs, they might be useful in future physical vapor deposition techniques, methods that are typically used in standard semiconductor fabrication processes.