Approaches to Orthogonally Fused Conducting Polymers For Molecular Electronics

Molecular electronics-based computing instruments possess tremendous technological potential. There is the hope of developing single molecules that could each function as a self-contained electronic device. Thus, one can envision computing systems with molecular-sized electronic elements and operational efficiencies far exceeding that of present systems.3 Recently, Aviram of the IBM Corporation has suggested that molecules which contain a pro-conducting (non-doped or non-oxidized system, hence insulating) polymer which is fixed at a 90° angle via a non-conjugated sigma bonded network to a conducting (doped or oxidized system) should exhibit properties which would make it suitable for interconnection into future molecular electronic devices.4 These devices may be useful for the memory, logic, and amplification computing systems. The molecule 1 (in doped form) is an example of this pro-conducting/sigma/conducting type of molecule.