U.S. patent application number 10/800147 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-13 for procedure for preparing redox-active polymers on surfaces.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Regents of the University of California. Invention is credited to David F. Bocian, Jonathan S. Lindsey, Zhiming Liu Liu.
Application Number | 20080280047 10/800147 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34976172 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080280047 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bocian; David F. ; et
al. |
November 13, 2008 |
PROCEDURE FOR PREPARING REDOX-ACTIVE POLYMERS ON SURFACES
Abstract
This invention provides novel methods for the formation of
redox-active polymers attached to surfaces. In certain embodiments,
the methods involve providing redox-active molecules bearing at
least a first reactive site or group and a second reactive site or
group; and contacting the surface with the redox-active molecules
where the contacting is under conditions that result in attachment
of said redox-active molecules to said surface via the first
reactive site or group and attachment of redox-active molecules via
the second reactive site or group, to the redox-active molecules
attached to the surface thereby forming a polymer attached to said
surface where the polymers comprise at least two of said
redox-active molecules.
Inventors: |
Bocian; David F.;
(Riverside, CA) ; Liu; Zhiming Liu; (Riverside,
CA) ; Lindsey; Jonathan S.; (Raleigh, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BEYER WEAVER LLP
P.O. BOX 70250
OAKLAND
CA
94612-0250
US
|
Assignee: |
The Regents of the University of
California
|
Family ID: |
34976172 |
Appl. No.: |
10/800147 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
427/337 ;
427/407.1; 427/419.8; 427/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 51/0595 20130101;
B82Y 10/00 20130101; H01L 51/0003 20130101; H01L 51/0089
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
427/337 ; 427/74;
427/407.1; 427/419.8 |
International
Class: |
B05D 5/12 20060101
B05D005/12; B05D 3/10 20060101 B05D003/10 |
Goverment Interests
STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
[0001] This invention was made with Government support under Grant
No: MDA972-01-C-072, awarded by the Army. The Government of the
United States of America has certain rights in this invention.
Claims
1. A method of patterning redox-active polymers on a surface to
form surface-bound redox-active polymers, said method comprising:
providing redox-active molecules bearing at least a first reactive
site or group and a second reactive site or group, wherein said
first reactive site or group is a species reactive with said second
reactive site or group and said first reactive site or group and
said second reactive site or group are the same species; and
contacting said surface with said redox-active molecules, where
said contacting is under conditions that result in attachment of
said redox-active molecules to said surface via said first reactive
site or group, and attachment of redox-active molecules directly to
each other via a reaction between the first reactive site or group
on one redox-active molecule and the second reactive site or group
on the attached redox-active molecule, thereby forming a polymer
attached to said surface where said polymers comprise at least two
of said redox-active molecules.
2-3. (canceled)
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first reactive site or group
and/or said second reactive site or group is attached to said
redox-active molecule by a linker.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first reactive site or group
is an ethynyl group.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said second reactive site or
group is an ethynyl group.
7. The method of any of claims 5 or 6, wherein said ethynyl group
is an ethynyl group selected from the group consisting of ethynyl,
4-ethynylphenyl, 3-ethynylphenyl, 4-ethynylbiphenyl,
3-ethynylphenyl, 4-ethynylterphenyl, and 3-ethynylterphenyl.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein said redox-active molecule is
selected from the group consisting of a porphyrinic macrocycle, a
porphyrin, a sandwich coordination compound of porphyrinic
macrocycles, and a metallocene.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein said redox-active molecule is
selected from the group consisting of a linear polyene, a cyclic
polyene, a heteroatom-substituted linear polyene, a
heteroatom-substituted cyclic polyene, a tetrathiafulvalene, a
tetraselenafulvalene, a metal coordination complex, a buckyball, a
triarylamine, a 1,4-phenylenediamine, a xanthene, a flavin, a
phenazine, a phenothiazine, an acridine, a quinoline, a
2,2'-bipyridyl, a 4,4'-bipyridyl, a tetrathiotetracene, and a
peri-bridged naphthalene dichalcogenide.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein said redox-active molecule is a
porphyrin comprising a substituent selected from the group
consisting of: aryl, phenyl, cycloalkyl, alkyl, halogen, alkoxy,
alkylthio, perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroaryl, pyridyl, cyano,
thiocyanato, nitro, amino, alkylamino, acyl, sulfoxyl, sulfonyl,
amido, and carbamoyl.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein said redox-active molecule is a
porphyrin comprising a substituent selected from the group
consisting of: 4-methylphenyl, 4-t-butylphenyl,
4-trifluoromethylphenyl, pentyl, and H (no substituent).
12. The method of claim 1, wherein said redox-active molecule is a
phthalocyanine comprising a substituent selected from the group
consisting of aryl, phenyl, cycloalkyl, alkyl, halogen, alkoxy,
alkylthio, perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroaryl, pyridyl, cyano,
thiocyanato, nitro, amino, alkylamino, acyl, sulfoxyl, sulfonyl,
amido, and carbamoyl.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein said redox-active molecule is a
phthalocyanine comprising a substituent selected from the group
consisting of methyl, t-butyl, butoxy, fluoro, and H (no
substituent).
14. The method of claim 1, wherein said redox-active molecule is
selected from the group consisting of: ##STR00035## ##STR00036##
##STR00037## ##STR00038##
15. The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting comprises
contacting said surface with a linker having the formula
Y.sup.1-L.sup.1-Z.sup.1 wherein Z.sup.1 is a surface attachment
group; L.sup.1 is a covalent bond or a linker; and Y.sup.1 is a
protected or unprotected reactive site or group; whereby said
linker attaches to said surface; and contacting the attached linker
with said redox-active molecules whereby the redox-active molecules
couple to each other via said first and/or said second reactive
site or group and the redox-active molecules couple to the linker
through Y.sup.1 and said first and/or said second reactive site or
group thereby forming a polymer attached to said linker where said
polymer comprises at least two of said redox-active molecules.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein Z.sup.1 is a protected or
unprotected reactive site or group selected from the group
consisting of a carboxylic acid, an alcohol, a thiol, a selenol, a
tellurol, a phosphonic acid, a phosphonothioate, an amine, a
nitrile, 4-formylphenyl, 4-(bromomethyl)phenyl, 4-vinylphenyl,
4-ethynylphenyl, 4-allylphenyl,
4-[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]phenyl, 4-bromophenyl,
4-iodophenyl,
4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl, bromo, iodo,
formyl, bromomethyl, chloromethyl, ethynyl, vinyl, allyl,
4-(ethynyl)biphen-4'-yl,
4-[2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]biphen-4'-yl, 3,5-diethynylphenyl,
and 2-bromoethyl.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein -L.sup.1-Z.sup.1- is selected
from the group consisting of 4-carboxyphenyl, carboxymethyl,
2-carboxyethyl, 3-carboxypropyl, 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)ethynyl,
4-(2-(4-carboxyphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl, 4-carboxymethylphenyl,
4-(3-carboxypropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; 4-hydroxyphenyl,
hydroxymethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 3-hydroxypropyl,
2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethynyl, 4-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl,
4-hydroxymethylphenyl, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl,
4-(3-hydroxypropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-hydroxymethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; 4-mercaptophenyl,
mercaptomethyl, 2-mercaptoethyl, 3-mercaptopropyl,
2-(4-mercaptophenyl)ethynyl, 4-(2-(4-mercaptophenyl)ethynyl)phenyl,
4-mercaptomethylphenyl, 4-(2-mercaptoethyl)phenyl,
4-(3-mercaptopropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-mercaptomethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; 4-selenylphenyl,
selenylmethyl, 2-selenylethyl, 3-selenylpropyl,
2-(4-selenylphenyl)ethynyl, 4-selenylmethylphenyl,
4-(2-selenylethyl)phenyl, 4-(3-selenylpropyl)phenyl,
4-selenylmethylphenyl, 4-(2-(4-selenylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl;
4-tellurylphenyl, tellurylmethyl, 2-tellurylethyl,
3-tellurylpropyl, 2-(4-tellurylphenyl)ethynyl,
4-(2-(4-tellurylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl, 4-tellurylmethylphenyl,
4-(2-tellurylethyl)phenyl, 4-(3-tellurylpropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-tellurylmethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl;
4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl, (dihydroxyphosphoryl)methyl,
2-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)ethyl, 3-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)propyl,
2-[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl,
4-[2-[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[(dihydroxyphosphoryl)methyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)ethyl]phenyl,
4-[2-[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)methylphenyl]ethynyl]phenyl;
4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)phenyl,
(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)methyl,
2-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)ethyl,
3-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)propyl,
2-[4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl,
4-[2-[4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)methyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)ethyl]phenyl,
4-[2-[4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)methylphenyl]ethynyl]phenyl;
4-cyanophenyl, cyanomethyl, 2-cyanoethyl, 3-cyanopropyl,
2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethynyl, 4-[2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethynyl]phenyl,
4-(cyanomethyl)phenyl, 4-(2-cyanoethyl)phenyl,
4-[2-[4-(cyanomethyl)phenyl]ethynyl]phenyl; 4-cyanobiphenyl,
4-aminophenyl, aminomethyl, 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl,
2-(4-aminophenyl)ethynyl, 4-[2-(4-aminophenyl)ethynyl]phenyl, and
4-aminobiphenyl.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein L is selected from the group
consisting of a covalent bond, 1,4-phenylene, 4,4'-diphenylethyne,
4,4'-diphenylbutadiyne, 4,4'-biphenyl, 4,4'-stilbene,
1,4-bicyclooctane, 4,4'-azobenzene, 4,4'-benzylideneaniline, and
4,4''-terphenyl.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein said method further comprises
attaching a counterelectrode to said polymer.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said counterelectrode is
attached directly to said polymer.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein said counterelectrode is
attached to said polymer through a linker.
22. The method of claim 15, wherein said redox-active molecules
further comprise redox-active molecules having only one available
reactive group or site.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein said redox-active molecules
having only one available reactive group or site comprise a second
reactive group or site that is blocked.
24. The method of claim 1, wherein said surface comprises a
material selected from the group consisting of a Group III element,
a Group IV element, a Group V element, a doped Group III element, a
doped Group IV element, a doped Group V element, a transition
metal, a transition metal oxide, and a transition metal
nitride.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein said surface comprises a
material selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium,
doped silicon, and doped germanium.
26. The method of claim 24, wherein said surface is a hydrogen
passivated surface.
27. A method of patterning redox-active polymers on a surface to
form surface-bound redox-active polymers, said method comprising:
providing a surface having attached thereto a linker bearing a
reactive site or group and/or a redox-active molecule bearing a
reactive site or group; providing redox-active molecules bearing at
least a first reactive site or group and a second reactive site or
group, wherein said first reactive site or group is a species
reactive with said second reactive site or group, and said first
reactive site or group and said second reactive site or group are
the same species; and contacting said surface with said
redox-active molecules, where said contacting is under conditions
that result in the attachment of redox-active molecules to the
linker via the first reactive site, and attachment of redox active
molecules directly to each other via a reaction between the first
reactive site or group on one redox-active molecule and the second
reactive site or group on the attached redox-active molecule,
thereby forming polymers attached to said surface where said
polymers comprise at least two of said redox-active molecules.
28-29. (canceled)
30. The method of claim 27, wherein said first reactive site or
group and/or said second reactive site or group is attached to said
redox-active molecule by a linker.
31. The method of claim 27, wherein said first reactive site or
group is an ethynyl group.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein said second reactive site or
group is an ethynyl group.
33. The method of any of claims 31 or 32, wherein said ethynyl
group is an ethynyl group selected from the group consisting of
ethynyl, 4-ethynylphenyl, 3-ethynylphenyl, 4-ethynylbiphenyl,
3-ethynylphenyl, 4-ethynylterphenyl, and 3-ethynylterbiphenyl.
34. The method of claim 27, wherein said redox-active molecule is
selected from the group consisting of a porphyrinic macrocycle, a
porphyrin, a sandwich coordination compound of porphyrinic
macrocycles, and a metallocene.
35. The method of claim 27, wherein said redox-active molecule is
selected from the group consisting of a linear polyene, a cyclic
polyene, a heteroatom-substituted linear polyene, a
heteroatom-substituted cyclic polyene, a tetrathiafulvalene, a
tetraselenafulvalene, a metal coordination complex, a buckyball, a
triarylamine, a 1,4-phenylenediamine, a xanthene, a flavin, a
phenazine, a phenothiazine, an acridine, a quinoline, a
2,2'-bipyridyl, a 4,4'-bipyridyl, a tetrathiotetracene, and a
peri-bridged naphthalene dichalcogenide.
36. The method of claim 27, wherein said redox-active molecule is a
porphyrin comprising a substituent selected from the group
consisting of: aryl, phenyl, cycloalkyl, alkyl, halogen, alkoxy,
alkylthio, perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroaryl, pyridyl, cyano,
thiocyanato, nitro, amino, alkylamino, acyl, sulfoxyl, sulfonyl,
amido, and carbamoyl.
37. The method of claim 27, wherein said redox-active molecule is a
porphyrin comprising a substituent selected from the group
consisting of: 4-methylphenyl, 4-t-butylphenyl,
4-trifluoromethylphenyl, pentyl, and H (no substituent).
38. The method of claim 27, wherein said redox-active molecule is a
phthalocyanine comprising a substituent selected from the group
consisting of aryl, phenyl, cycloalkyl, alkyl, halogen, alkoxy,
alkylthio, perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroaryl, pyridyl, cyano,
thiocyanato, nitro, amino, alkylamino, acyl, sulfoxyl, sulfonyl,
amido, and carbamoyl.
39. The method of claim 27, wherein said redox-active molecule is a
phthalocyanine comprising a substituent selected from the group
consisting of methyl, t-butyl, butoxy, fluoro, and H (no
substituent).
40. The method of claim 27, wherein said redox-active molecule is a
molecule selected from the group consisting of: ##STR00039##
##STR00040## ##STR00041## ##STR00042##
41. The method of claim 27, wherein said providing comprises
providing a surface having attached thereto a linker whereby said
surface and linker have the formula S-Z.sup.1-L.sup.1-Y.sup.1
wherein S is the surface; Z.sup.1 is a surface attachment group;
L.sup.1 is a covalent bond or a linker; and Y.sup.1 is a protected
or unprotected reactive site or group.
42. The method of claim 41, wherein Y.sup.1 is a protected reactive
site our group and said method further comprises deprotecting
Y.sup.1.
43. The method of claim 41, wherein Z.sup.1, before coupling to
said surface, is a protected or unprotected reactive site or group
selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid, an
alcohol, a thiol, a selenol, a tellurol, a phosphonic acid, a
phosphonothioate, an amine, a nitrile, 4-formylphenyl,
4-(bromomethyl)phenyl, 4-vinylphenyl, 4-ethynylphenyl,
4-allylphenyl, 4-[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]phenyl, 4-bromophenyl,
4-iodophenyl,
4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl, bromo, iodo,
formyl, bromomethyl, chloromethyl, ethynyl, vinyl, allyl,
4-(ethynyl)biphen-4'-yl,
4-[2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]biphen-4'-yl, 3,5-diethynylphenyl,
and 2-bromoethyl.
44. The method of claim 41, wherein Z.sup.1-L.sup.1, before
coupling to said surface, is selected from the group consisting of
4-carboxyphenyl, carboxymethyl, 2-carboxyethyl, 3-carboxypropyl,
2-(4-carboxyphenyl)ethynyl, 4-(2-(4-carboxyphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl,
4-carboxymethylphenyl, 4-(3-carboxypropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; 4-hydroxyphenyl,
hydroxymethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 3-hydroxypropyl,
2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethynyl, 4-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl,
4-hydroxymethylphenyl, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl,
4-(3-hydroxypropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-hydroxymethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; 4-mercaptophenyl,
mercaptomethyl, 2-mercaptoethyl, 3-mercaptopropyl,
2-(4-mercaptophenyl)ethynyl, 4-(2-(4-mercaptophenyl)ethynyl)phenyl,
4-mercaptomethylphenyl, 4-(2-mercaptoethyl)phenyl,
4-(3-mercaptopropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-mercaptomethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; 4-selenylphenyl,
selenylmethyl, 2-selenylethyl, 3-selenylpropyl,
2-(4-selenylphenyl)ethynyl, 4-selenylmethylphenyl,
4-(2-selenylethyl)phenyl, 4-(3-selenylpropyl)phenyl,
4-selenylmethylphenyl, 4-(2-(4-selenylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl;
4-tellurylphenyl, tellurylmethyl, 2-tellurylethyl,
3-tellurylpropyl, 2-(4-tellurylphenyl)ethynyl,
4-(2-(4-tellurylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl, 4-tellurylmethylphenyl,
4-(2-tellurylethyl)phenyl, 4-(3-tellurylpropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-tellurylmethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl;
4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl, (dihydroxyphosphoryl)methyl,
2-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)ethyl, 3-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)propyl,
2-[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl,
4-[2-[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[(dihydroxyphosphoryl)methyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)ethyl]phenyl,
4-[2-[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)methylphenyl]ethynyl]phenyl;
4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)phenyl,
(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)methyl,
2-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)ethyl,
3-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)propyl,
2-[4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl,
4-[2-[4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)methyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)ethyl]phenyl,
4-[2-[4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)methylphenyl]ethynyl]phenyl;
4-cyanophenyl, cyanomethyl, 2-cyanoethyl, 3-cyanopropyl,
2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethynyl, 4-[2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethynyl]phenyl,
4-(cyanomethyl)phenyl, 4-(2-cyanoethyl)phenyl,
4-[2-[4-(cyanomethyl)phenyl]ethynyl]phenyl; 4-cyanobiphenyl,
4-aminophenyl, aminomethyl, 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl,
2-(4-aminophenyl)ethynyl, 4-[2-(4-aminophenyl)ethynyl]phenyl, and
4-aminobiphenyl.
45. The method of claim 41, wherein L.sup.1 is selected from the
group consisting of a covalent bond, 1,4-phenylene,
4,4'-diphenylethyne, 4,4'-diphenylbutadiyne, 4,4'-biphenyl,
4,4'-stilbene, 1,4-bicyclooctane, 4,4'-azobenzene,
4,4'-benzylideneaniline, and 4,4''-terphenyl.
46. The method of claim 27, wherein said method further comprises
attaching a counterelectrode to said polymer.
47. The method of claim 46, wherein said counterelectrode is
attached directly to said polymer.
48. The method of claim 46, wherein said counterelectrode is
attached to said polymer through a linker.
49. The method of claim 27, wherein said redox-active molecules
further comprise redox-active molecules having only one available
reactive group or site.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein said redox-active molecules
having only one available reactive group or site comprise a second
reactive group or site that is blocked.
51-97. (canceled)
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] [Not Applicable]
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention pertains to the field of molecular
electronics. In particular, this invention pertains to improved
methods to attach and polymerize redox-active molecules on
surfaces.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] There has been considerable interest in the development of
hybrid electronics devices and chips that utilize one or more
organic molecules to store or manipulate information in discrete
oxidation states of the molecule(s) (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,208,553, 6,212,093, 6,272,038, 6,324,091, 6,381,169, and
6,451,942, and PCT Publication WO 01/03126, etc.).
[0005] In certain embodiments, an electroactive (redox-active)
molecule such as a porphyrin and/or metallocene is covalently
attached (directly or through a linker) to a conductive surface
such as gold or silicon. The electroactive molecule(s) can be
oxidized, e.g., to a cationic state upon application of an applied
potential. When the potential is removed, the molecules store
charge for extended periods. This forms the basis of the memory
storage device.
[0006] General challenges in fabricating a hybrid chip containing
molecular materials for information storage include, but are not
limited to the efficient and effective attachment (electrical
coupling) of the charge-storage molecule to an electroactive
surface, controlling placement of the charge storage molecule(s)
and/or associated electrolyte(s), and controlled
deposition/location of counter electrodes. Particularly pressing
problems are that often the methods for attachment of molecules to
surfaces often require very high concentrations, high temperature,
and/or the use of reactive intermediates (see, e.g. Cleland et al.
(1995) J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. 91: 4001-4003; Buriak (1999)
Chem. Commun. 1051-1060; Linford et al. (1995) J. Am. Chem. Soc.
117: 3145-3155; Hamers et al. (2000) Acc. Chem. Res. 33: 617-624;
Haber et al. (2000) J. Phys. Chem. B, 104: 9947-9950). Such
conditions are readily applicable to small robust molecules but
become less satisfactory and often fail altogether as the molecules
become larger and/or more elaborate.
[0007] Another problem is associated with increased miniaturization
of the electroactive memory elements. As the feature size of a
memory cell shrinks to nanoscale dimensions, fewer and fewer
molecules occupy the cell feature. Consequently, it becomes
increasingly difficult to detect the stored charge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] This invention pertains to the discovery that one solution
to this problem of small feature size in molecular memory and
related applications, is to stack information storage molecules
(e.g. redox-active molecules) in the Z-dimension (the direction
perpendicular to the substrate surface. We have found that
porphyrinic macrocycles and other redox-active molecules can be
made to polymerize under the conditions that we typically employ
for forming monolayers on silicon, and other, surfaces. Moreover it
was a surprising discovery that the redox-active polymers are
electrochemically robust (capable of many read/write cycles) and
exhibit charge-retention times that are comparable (or longer) than
those of monolayers of the same molecules.
[0009] Thus, in one embodiment, this invention provides methods of
patterning redox-active polymers on a surface to form surface-bound
redox-active polymers. The method typically involves providing
redox-active molecules bearing at least a first reactive site or
group and a second reactive site or group; and contacting the
surface with the redox-active molecules where the contacting is
under conditions that result in attachment of the redox-active
molecules to the surface via the first reactive site or group and
attachment of redox-active molecules via the second reactive site
or group, to each other thereby forming polymers attached to the
surface where the polymers comprise at least two, preferably at
least three or four, more preferably at least five or six, and most
preferably at least eight, ten, or twelve, of the redox-active
molecules. The first reactive site or group and the second reactive
site or group can be the same species or they can be different
species. In certain embodiments, the first reactive site or group
and/or the second reactive site or group is an ethynyl group (e.g.,
ethynyl, 4-ethynylphenyl, 3-ethynylphenyl, 4-ethynylbiphenyl,
3-ethynylphenyl, 4-ethynylterphenyl, and 3-ethynylterphenyl, and
the like). Suitable redox-active molecules include, but are not
limited to a porphyrinic macrocycle, a porphyrin, a sandwich
coordination compound of porphyrinic macrocycles, and a
metallocene. In certain embodiments, the redox-active molecule is
selected from the group consisting of a linear polyene, a cyclic
polyene, a heteroatom-substituted linear polyene, a
heteroatom-substituted cyclic polyene, a tetrathiafulvalene, a
tetraselenafulvalene, a metal coordination complex, a buckyball, a
triarylamine, a 1,4-phenylenediamine, a xanthene, a flavin, a
phenazine, a phenothiazine, an acridine, a quinoline, a
2,2'-bipyridyl, a 4,4'-bipyridyl, a tetrathiotetracene, and a
peri-bridged naphthalene dichalcogenide. In certain embodiments,
the redox-active molecule is a porphyrin comprising a substituent
selected from the group consisting of: aryl, phenyl, cycloalkyl,
alkyl, halogen, alkoxy, alkylthio, perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroaryl,
pyridyl, cyano, thiocyanato, nitro, amino, alkylamino, acyl,
sulfoxyl, sulfonyl, amido, and carbamoyl, more preferably a
substituent selected from the group consisting of: 4-methylphenyl,
4-t-butylphenyl, 4-trifluoromethylphenyl, pentyl, and H (no
substituent). In certain embodiments, the redox-active molecule is
a phthalocyanine comprising a substituent selected from the group
consisting of aryl, phenyl, cycloalkyl, alkyl, halogen, alkoxy,
alkylthio, perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroaryl, pyridyl, cyano,
thiocyanato, nitro, amino, alkylamino, acyl, sulfoxyl, sulfonyl,
amido, and carbamoyl, more preferably a substituent selected from
the group consisting of methyl, t-butyl, butoxy, fluoro, and H (no
substituent). In certain embodiments, the redox-active molecule is
a molecule found in Table 1 or FIG. 4.
[0010] In certain embodiments, the contacting involves contacting
the surface with a linker having the formula
Y.sup.1-L.sup.1-Z.sup.1, where Z.sup.1 is a surface attachment
group; L.sup.1 is a covalent bond or a linker; and Y.sup.1 is a
protected or unprotected reactive site or group; whereby the linker
attaches to the surface; and contacting the attached linker with
the redox-active molecules whereby the redox-active molecules
couple to each other via the first and/or the second reactive site
or group and the redox-active molecules couple to the linker
through Y.sup.1 and the first and/or the second reactive site or
group thereby forming a polymer attached to the linker where the
polymer comprises at least two of the redox-active molecules. In
various Z.sup.1 is a protected or unprotected reactive site or
group selected from the group consisting of a carboxylic acid, an
alcohol, a thiol, a selenol, a tellurol, a phosphonic acid, a
phosphonothioate, an amine, a nitrile, 4-formylphenyl,
4-(bromomethyl)phenyl, 4-vinylphenyl, 4-ethynylphenyl,
4-allylphenyl, 4-[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]phenyl, 4-bromophenyl,
4-iodophenyl,
4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl, bromo, iodo,
formyl, bromomethyl, chloromethyl, ethynyl, vinyl, allyl,
4-(ethynyl)biphen-4'-yl,
4-[2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]biphen-4'-yl, 3,5-diethynylphenyl,
and 2-bromoethyl. In various embodiments -L.sup.1-Z.sup.1- is
selected from the group consisting of 4-carboxyphenyl,
carboxymethyl, 2-carboxyethyl, 3-carboxypropyl,
2-(4-carboxyphenyl)ethynyl, 4-(2-(4-carboxyphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl,
4-carboxymethylphenyl, 4-(3-carboxypropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; 4-hydroxyphenyl,
hydroxymethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 3-hydroxypropyl,
2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethynyl, 4-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl,
4-hydroxymethylphenyl, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl,
4-(3-hydroxypropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-hydroxymethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; 4-mercaptophenyl,
mercaptomethyl, 2-mercaptoethyl, 3-mercaptopropyl,
2-(4-mercaptophenyl)ethynyl, 4-(2-(4-mercaptophenyl)ethynyl)phenyl,
4-mercaptomethylphenyl, 4-(2-mercaptoethyl)phenyl,
4-(3-mercaptopropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-mercaptomethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; 4-selenylphenyl,
selenylmethyl, 2-selenylethyl, 3-selenylpropyl,
2-(4-selenylphenyl)ethynyl, 4-selenylmethylphenyl,
4-(2-selenylethyl)phenyl, 4-(3-selenylpropyl)phenyl,
4-selenylmethylphenyl, 4-(2-(4-selenylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl;
4-tellurylphenyl, tellurylmethyl, 2-tellurylethyl,
3-tellurylpropyl, 2-(4-tellurylphenyl)ethynyl,
4-(2-(4-tellurylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl, 4-tellurylmethylphenyl,
4-(2-tellurylethyl)phenyl, 4-(3-tellurylpropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-tellurylmethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl;
4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl, (dihydroxyphosphoryl)methyl,
2-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)ethyl, 3-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)propyl,
2-[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl,
4-[2-[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[(dihydroxyphosphoryl)methyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)ethyl]phenyl,
4-[2-[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)methylphenyl]ethynyl]phenyl;
4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)phenyl,
(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)methyl,
2-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)ethyl,
3-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)propyl,
2-[4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl,
4-[2-[4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)methyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)ethyl]phenyl,
4-[2-[4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)methylphenyl]ethynyl]phenyl;
4-cyanophenyl, cyanomethyl, 2-cyanoethyl, 3-cyanopropyl,
2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethynyl, 4-[2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethynyl]phenyl,
4-(cyanomethyl)phenyl, 4-(2-cyanoethyl)phenyl,
4-[2-[4-(cyanomethyl)phenyl]ethynyl]phenyl; 4-cyanobiphenyl,
4-aminophenyl, aminomethyl, 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl,
2-(4-aminophenyl)ethynyl, 4-[2-(4-aminophenyl)ethynyl]phenyl, and
4-aminobiphenyl. In various embodiments L.sup.1 is selected from
the group consisting of a covalent bond, 1,4-phenylene,
4,4'-diphenylethyne, 4,4'-diphenylbutadiyne, 4,4'-biphenyl,
4,4'-stilbene, 1,4-bicyclooctane, 4,4'-azobenzene,
4,4'-benzylideneaniline, and 4,4''-terphenyl. In certain
embodiments, the method further comprises attaching a
counterelectrode to the polymer(s) (e.g., directly or through a
linker). In certain embodiments, the redox-active molecules can
further comprise redox-active molecules having only one available
reactive group or site which can therefore act as a capping
reagent. The redox-active molecules having only one available
reactive group or site can have just a single available reactive
group or site and/or they can have a second reactive group or site
that is blocked. In certain embodiments, the surface comprises a
material selected from the group consisting of a Group III element,
a Group IV element, a Group V element, a doped Group III element, a
doped Group IV element, a doped Group V element, a transition
metal, a transition metal oxide, and/or a transition metal nitride.
The surface can comprise a hydrogen passivated surface.
[0011] In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of
patterning redox-active polymers on a surface to form surface-bound
redox-active polymers. The method typically involves providing a
surface having attached thereto a linker bearing a reactive site or
group and/or a redox-active molecule bearing a reactive site or
group; providing redox-active molecules bearing at least a first
reactive site or group and a second reactive site or group; and
contacting the surface with the redox-active molecules where the
contacting is under conditions that result in the attachment of the
redox-active molecules to the linker and/or to the redox-active
molecule attached to the surface and the polymerization of the
redox-active molecules thereby forming polymers attached to the
surface where the polymers comprise at least two, preferably at
least three or four, more preferably at least five or six, and most
preferably at least eight, ten, or twelve, of the redox-active
molecules. The first reactive site or group and the second reactive
site or group can be the same species or they can be different
species. In certain embodiments, the first reactive site or group
and/or the second reactive site or group is an ethynyl group (e.g.,
ethynyl, 4-ethynylphenyl, 3-ethynylphenyl, 4-ethynylbiphenyl,
3-ethynylphenyl, 4-ethynylterphenyl, and 3-ethynylterphenyl, and
the like). Suitable redox-active molecules, include, but are not
limited to the redox-active molecules described above and listed in
Table 1 and/or FIG. 4. In certain embodiments, the providing
comprises providing a surface having attached thereto a linker
whereby the surface and linker have the formula
S-Z.sup.1-L.sup.1-Y.sup.1, where S is the surface; Z.sup.1 is a
surface attachment group; L.sup.1 is a covalent bond or a linker;
and Y.sup.1 is a protected or unprotected reactive site or group.
In certain embodiments, Y.sup.1 is a protected reactive site our
group and the method further comprises deprotecting Y. In various
embodiments Z.sup.1, before coupling to the surface and/or
Z.sup.1-L.sup.1, and/or L.sup.1 include, but are not limited to the
Z.sup.1 and/or the Z.sup.1-L.sup.1, and/or the L.sup.1 described
above. In certain embodiments, the method further comprises
attaching a counterelectrode to the polymer(s) (e.g., directly or
through a linker). In certain embodiments, the redox-active
molecules can further comprise redox-active molecules having only
one available reactive group or site which can therefore act as a
capping reagent. The redox-active molecules having only one
available reactive group or site can have just a single available
reactive group or site and/or they can have a second reactive group
or site that is blocked. In certain embodiments, the surface
comprises a material selected from the group of surface materials
identified above. The surface can comprise a hydrogen passivated
surface.
[0012] In another embodiment, this invention provides an
electroactive substrate comprising a first zone wherein the first
zone comprises a surface with an attached redox-active moiety
according to the formula: M.sub.n-L-Z-S, where S is a substrate; Z
is a surface attachment group; L is a linker or covalent bond; M is
a redox-active molecule; and n is at least 3, preferably at least
4, 5, or 6, more preferably 7, 8, or 9, and most preferably at
least 10, 12, 15, 20, or 30. In certain embodiments, the
redox-active molecules are attached to each other through an
ethynyl group (e.g., ethynyl, 4-ethynylphenyl, 3-ethynylphenyl,
4-ethynylbiphenyl, 3-ethynylphenyl, 4-ethynylterphenyl,
3-ethynylterphenyl, etc.). Suitable redox-active molecules,
include, but are not limited to the redox-active molecules
described above and listed in Table 1 and/or FIG. 4. In certain
embodiments, the substrate comprises a surface with an attached
redox-active moiety according to the formula: S-Z-L-M.sub.n-Y-E,
where Y is a linker or a reactive site or group; and E is a
counterelectrode. In various embodiments Z, Z-L, and L include, but
are not limited to the moieties identified above for Z.sup.1,
Z.sup.1-L.sup.1, and/or L.sup.1. In certain embodiments, the
electroactive substrate further comprises a second zone wherein the
second zone comprises a surface with an attached redox-active
moiety wherein the redox-active moiety is different than M. In
certain embodiments, the first zone is a redox-active storage
cell.
[0013] This invention also provides a redox-active storage cell
comprising a surface with an attached redox-active moiety according
to the formula: E-Y-M.sub.n-L-Z-S where S is a substrate; Z is a
surface attachment group; L is a linker linkers or covalent bond; M
is a redox-active molecule; Y is a reactive site or group or a
linker; E is a counter-electrode; and n is at least three or four,
more preferably at least five or six, and most preferably at least
eight, ten, or twelve. In certain embodiments, the redox-active
molecules are attached to each other through an ethynyl group
(e.g., ethynyl, 4-ethynylphenyl, 3-ethynylphenyl,
4-ethynylbiphenyl, 3-ethynylphenyl, 4-ethynylterphenyl,
3-ethynylterphenyl, etc.). Suitable redox-active molecules,
include, but are not limited to the redox-active molecules
described above and listed in Table 1 and/or FIG. 4. In various
embodiments Z, Z-L, and L include, but are not limited to the
moieties identified above for Z.sup.1, Z.sup.1-L.sup.1, and/or
L.sup.1. In certain embodiments, a conductive material and/or a
semiconductive material. The storage cell can, optionally be
encapsulated.
[0014] Also provided is a method of storing data. The method
typically involves providing an apparatus comprising one or more
storage cells, e.g. as described above, and applying a voltage to
the counter-electrode at sufficient current to set an oxidation
state of M.sub.n. In various embodiments the voltage ranges up to
about 2 volts. The voltage can optionally be output of an
integrated circuit (e.g., a logic gate). In certain embodiments,
the method can further involve detecting the oxidation state of
M.sub.n and thereby reading out the data stored therein. The
detecting can, optionally, involve refreshing the oxidation state
of M.sub.n. In certain embodiments, the detecting comprises
analyzing a readout signal in the time domain and/or frequency
domain (e.g. by performing a Fourier transform on the readout
signal). In certain embodiments, the detecting utilizes a
voltammetric method (e.g., impedance spectroscopy, cyclic
voltammetry, etc.). In certain embodiments, the detecting comprises
exposing the storage medium to an electric field to produce an
electric field oscillation having characteristic frequency and
detecting the characteristic frequency. In certain embodiments,
M.sub.n has at least eight different and distinguishable oxidation
states.
[0015] Also provided is a computer system comprising a memory
device where the memory device comprises a storage cell as
described herein.
[0016] In certain embodiments, this invention provides a computer
system comprising a central processing unit, a display, a selector
device, and a memory device, where the memory device comprises a
storage cell as described hereih.
[0017] In certain embodiments, the redox-active polymers formed by
the methods of this invention are not "sandwich coordination
compounds".
DEFINITIONS
[0018] The term "oxidation" refers to the loss of one or more
electrons in an element, compound, or chemical substituent/subunit.
In an oxidation reaction, electrons are lost by atoms of the
element(s) involved in the reaction. The charge on these atoms must
then become more positive. The electrons are lost from the species
undergoing oxidation and so electrons appear as products in an
oxidation reaction. An oxidation is taking place in the reaction
Fe.sup.2+(aq)-->Fe.sup.3+(aq)+e.sup.- because electrons are lost
from the species being oxidized, Fe.sup.2+(aq), despite the
apparent production of electrons as "free" entities in oxidation
reactions. Conversely the term reduction refers to the gain of one
or more electrons by an element, compound, or chemical
substituent/subunit.
[0019] An "oxidation state" refers to the electrically neutral
state or to the state produced by the gain or loss of electrons to
an element, compound, or chemical substituent/subunit. In a
preferred embodiment, the term "oxidation state" refers to states
including the neutral state and any state other than a neutral
state caused by the gain or loss of electrons (reduction or
oxidation).
[0020] The term "multiple oxidation states" means more than one
oxidation state. In preferred embodiments, the oxidation states may
reflect the gain of electrons (reduction) or the loss of electrons
(oxidation).
[0021] The terms "different and distinguishable" when referring to
two or more oxidation states means that the net charge on the
entity (atom, molecule, aggregate, subunit, etc.) can exist in two
different states. The states are said to be "distinguishable" when
the difference between the states is greater than thermal energy at
room temperature (e.g., 0.degree. C. to about 40.degree. C.).
[0022] The term "tightly coupled" when used in reference to a
subunit of a multi-subunit (e.g., polymeric) storage molecule of
this invention refers to positioning of the subunits relative to
each other such that oxidation of one subunit alters the oxidation
potential(s) of the other subunit. In a preferred embodiment the
alteration is sufficient such that the (non-neutral) oxidation
state(s) of the second subunit are different and distinguishable
from the non-neutral oxidation states of the first subunit. In a
preferred embodiment the tight coupling is achieved by a covalent
bond (e.g., single, double, triple, etc.). However, in certain
embodiments, the tight coupling can be through a linker, via an
ionic interaction, via a hydrophobic interaction, through
coordination of a metal, or by simple mechanical juxtaposition. It
is understood that the subunits could be so tightly coupled that
the redox processes are those of a single supermolecule.
[0023] The term "electrode" refers to any medium capable of
transporting charge (e.g., electrons) to and/or from a storage
molecule. Preferred electrodes are metals or conductive organic
molecules. The electrodes can be manufactured to virtually any
2-dimensional or 3-dimensional shape (e.g., discrete lines, pads,
planes, spheres, cylinders, etc.).
[0024] The term "fixed electrode" is intended to reflect the fact
that the electrode is essentially stable and unmovable with respect
to the storage medium. That is, the electrode and storage medium
are arranged in an essentially fixed geometric relationship with
each other. It is of course recognized that the relationship alters
somewhat due to expansion and contraction of the medium with
thermal changes or due to changes in conformation of the molecules
comprising the electrode and/or the storage medium. Nevertheless,
the overall spatial arrangement remains essentially invariant. In a
preferred embodiment this term is intended to exclude systems in
which the electrode is a movable "probe" (e.g., a writing or
recording "head", an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip, a scanning
tunneling microscope (STM) tip, etc.).
[0025] The term "working electrode" is used to refer to one or more
electrodes that are used to set or read the state of a storage
medium and/or storage molecule.
[0026] The term "reference electrode" is used to refer to one or
more electrodes that provide a reference (e.g., a particular
reference voltage) for measurements recorded from the working
electrode. In preferred embodiments, the reference electrodes in a
memory device of this invention are at the same potential although
in some embodiments this need not be the case.
[0027] The term "electrically coupled" when used with reference to
a storage molecule and/or storage medium and electrode refers to an
association between that storage medium or molecule and the
electrode such that electrons move from the storage medium/molecule
to the electrode or from the electrode to the storage
medium/molecule and thereby alter the oxidation state of the
storage medium/molecule. Electrical coupling can include direct
covalent linkage between the storage medium/molecule and the
electrode, indirect covalent coupling (e.g., via a linker), direct
or indirect ionic bonding between the storage medium/molecule and
the electrode, or other bonding (e.g., hydrophobic bonding). In
addition, no actual bonding may be required and the storage
medium/molecule may simply be contacted with the electrode surface.
There also need not necessarily be any contact between the
electrode and the storage medium/molecule where the electrode is
sufficiently close to the storage medium/molecule to permit
electron tunneling between the medium/molecule and the
electrode.
[0028] The terms "redox-active unit" or "redox-active subunit"
refer to a molecule or component of a molecule that is capable of
being oxidized or reduced by the application of a suitable
voltage.
[0029] The term "redox-active" molecule refers to a molecule or
component of a molecule that is capable of being oxidized or
reduced by the application of a suitable voltage.
[0030] The term "subunit", as used herein, refers to a redox-active
component of a molecule.
[0031] The term "electrochemical cell" typically refers to a
reference electrode, a working electrode, a redox-active molecule
(e.g., a storage medium), and, if necessary, some means (e.g., a
dielectric) for providing electrical conductivity between the
electrodes and/or between the electrodes and the medium. In some
embodiments, the dielectric is a component of the storage
medium.
[0032] The terms "memory element", "memory cell", or "storage cell"
refer to an electrochemical cell that can be used for the storage
of information. Preferred "storage cells" are discrete regions of
storage medium addressed by at least one and preferably by two
electrodes (e.g., a working electrode and a reference electrode).
The storage cells can be individually addressed (e.g., a unique
electrode is associated with each memory element) or, particularly
where the oxidation states of different memory elements are
distinguishable, multiple memory elements can be addressed by a
single electrode. The memory element can optionally include a
dielectric (e.g., a dielectric impregnated with counterions).
[0033] The term "storage location" refers to a discrete domain or
area in which a storage medium is disposed. When addressed with one
or more electrodes, the storage location may form a storage cell.
However if two storage locations contain the same storage media so
that they have essentially the same oxidation states, and both
storage locations are commonly addressed, they may form one
functional storage cell.
[0034] "Addressing" a particular element refers to associating
(e.g., electrically coupling) that memory element with an electrode
such that the electrode can be used to specifically determine the
oxidation state(s) of that memory element.
[0035] The terms "read" or "interrogate" refer to the determination
of the oxidation state(s) of one or more molecules (e.g., molecules
comprising a storage medium).
[0036] The phrase "output of an integrated circuit" refers to a
voltage or signal produced by a one or more integrated circuit(s)
and/or one or more components of an integrated circuit.
[0037] A "voltammetric device" is a device capable of measuring the
current produced in an electrochemical cell as a result of the
application of a voltage or change in voltage.
[0038] An "amperometric device" is a device capable of measuring
the current produced in an electrochemical cell as a result of the
application of a specific potential field ("voltage").
[0039] A "potentiometric device" is a device capable of measuring
the potential across an interface that results from a difference in
the equilibrium concentrations of redox molecules in an
electrochemical cell.
[0040] A "coulometric device" is a device capable of the net charge
produced during the application of a potential field ("voltage") to
an electrochemical cell.
[0041] An "impedance spectrometer" is a device capable of
determining the overall impedance of an electrochemical cell.
[0042] A "sinusoidal voltammeter" is a voltammetric device capable
of determining the frequency domain properties of an
electrochemical cell.
[0043] The term "porphyrinic macrocycle" refers to a porphyrin or
porphyrin derivative. Such derivatives include porphyrins with
extra rings ortho-fused, or ortho-perifused, to the porphyrin
nucleus, porphyrins having a replacement of one or more carbon
atoms of the porphyrin ring by an atom of another element (skeletal
replacement), derivatives having a replacement of a nitrogen atom
of the porphyrin ring by an atom of another element (skeletal
replacement of nitrogen), derivatives having substituents other
than hydrogen located at the peripheral (meso-, .beta.-) or core
atoms of the porphyrin, derivatives with saturation of one or more
bonds of the porphyrin (hydroporphyrins, e.g., chlorins,
bacteriochlorins, isobacteriochlorins, decahydroporphyrins,
corphins, pyrrocorphins, etc.), derivatives obtained by
coordination of one or more metals to one or more porphyrin atoms
(metalloporphyrins), derivatives having one or more atoms,
including pyrrolic and pyrromethenyl units, inserted in the
porphyrin ring (expanded porphyrins), derivatives having one or
more groups removed from the porphyrin ring (contracted porphyrins,
e.g., corrin, corrole) and combinations of the foregoing
derivatives (e.g., phthalocyanines, sub-phthalocyanines, and
porphyrin isomers). Preferred porphyrinic macrocycles comprise at
least one 5-membered ring.
[0044] The term "porphyrin" refers to a cyclic structure typically
composed of four pyrrole rings together with four nitrogen atoms
and two replaceable hydrogens for which various metal atoms can
readily be substituted. A typical porphyrin is hemin.
[0045] The term "multiporphyrin array" refers to a discrete number
of two or more covalently-linked porphyrinic macrocycles. The
multiporphyrin arrays can be linear, cyclic, or branched.
[0046] The terms "sandwich coordination compound" or "sandwich
coordination complex" refer to a compound of the formula
L.sup.nM.sup.n-1, where each L is a heterocyclic ligand (as
described below), each M is a metal, n is 2 or more, most
preferably 2 or 3, and each metal is positioned between a pair of
ligands and bonded to one or more hetero atom (and typically a
plurality of hetero atoms, e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5) in each ligand
(depending upon the oxidation state of the metal). Thus sandwich
coordination compounds are not organometallic compounds such as
ferrocene, in which the metal is bonded to carbon atoms. The
ligands in the sandwich coordination compound are generally
arranged in a stacked orientation (i.e., are generally cofacially
oriented and axially aligned with one another, although they may or
may not be rotated about that axis with respect to one another)
(see, e.g., Ng and Jiang (1997) Chemical Society Reviews 26:
433-442). Sandwich coordination complexes include, but are not
limited to "double-decker sandwich coordination compound" and
"triple-decker sandwich coordination compounds". The synthesis and
use of sandwich coordination compounds is described in detail in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,093B1.
[0047] The term "double-decker sandwich coordination compound"
refers to a sandwich coordination compound as described above where
n is 2, thus having the formula L.sup.1--M.sup.1--L.sup.2, wherein
each of L.sup.1 and L.sup.2 may be the same or different (see,
e.g., Jiang et al. (1999) J. Porphyrins Phthalocyanines 3:
322-328).
[0048] The term "triple-decker sandwich coordination compound"
refers to a sandwich coordination compound as described above where
n is 3, thus having the formula
L.sup.1--M.sup.1--L.sup.2--M.sup.2--L.sup.3, wherein each of
L.sup.1, L.sup.2 and L.sup.3 may be the same or different, and
M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 may be the same or different (see, e.g., Arnold
et al. (1999) Chemistry Letters 483-484).
[0049] A "linker" is a molecule used to couple two different
molecules, two subunits of a molecule, or a molecule to a
substrate.
[0050] A "substrate" is a, preferably solid, material suitable for
the attachment of one or more molecules. Substrates can be formed
of materials including, but not limited to glass, plastic, silicon,
germanium, minerals (e.g., quartz), semiconducting materials (e.g.,
doped silicon, doped germanium, etc.), ceramics, metals, etc.
[0051] In preferred embodiments, when a metal is designated by "M"
or "M.sup.n", where n is an integer, it is recognized that the
metal may be associated with a counterion.
[0052] A "group II, III, IV, V, or VI element or material" includes
the pure element, a doped variant of the group II, III, IV, V, or
VI element and/or an oxidized variant of the group II, III, IV, V
or VI element.
[0053] The term "heat-resistant organic molecule" or "heat-stable
organic molecule" refers to organic molecules (e.g., porphyrins)
that are stable (e.g., show no decomposition, or substantially no
decomposition) at temperatures of 200.degree. C. to 400.degree. C.,
preferably at 400.degree. C. for at least 30 seconds, preferably
for at least one minute, more preferably for at least 2 to 5
minutes.
[0054] A "group III, IV, or V substrate" is a material comprising a
Group III, IV, or V element.
[0055] The term "transition metals" as used herein typically refers
to the 38 elements in groups 3 through 12 of the periodic table.
Typically transition metals are characterized by the fact that
their valence electrons, or the electrons they use to combine with
other elements, are present in more than one shell and consequently
often exhibit several common oxidation states. In certain
embodiments, the transition metals of this invention include, but
are not limited to one or more of scandium, titanium, vanadium,
chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, yttrium,
zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, technetium, ruthenium, rhodium,
palladium, silver, cadmium, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium,
osmium, iridium, platinum, gold, mercury, rutherfordium, and/or
oxides, and/or nitrides, and/or alloys, and/or mixtures
thereof.
[0056] A "solution comprising a heat-resistant organic molecule" or
a "solution comprising a redox-active molecule) is not limited to a
true solution, but also includes suspensions, dispersions, and
emulsions thereof. In addition, the solution contemplates pastes,
gels, aerogels, and essentially any medium suitable for
"containing" the heat-resistant organic molecule(s).
[0057] A "molecule bearing an attachment group" includes molecules
where the attachment group is an intrinsic component of the
molecule, molecules derivatized to add an attachment group, and
molecules derivatized so they bear a linker comprising an
attachment group.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0058] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the attachment and
polymerization of redox-active molecules to form redox-active
polymers attached to a substrate.
[0059] FIG. 2 illustrates a "multi-step" method of polymerization
and attachment of redox-active molecules to a substrate.
[0060] FIG. 3 illustrates a "multi-step" method of polymerization
and attachment of redox-active molecules to a substrate utilizing a
capping agent.
[0061] FIG. 4 shows some illustrative redox-active molecules
containing ethynyl groups.
[0062] FIG. 5 illustrates a two-zone furnace for gas phase
molecular attachment.
[0063] FIG. 6 illustrates an epitaxy system utilizing a K-cell for
attachment of organic molecules to a substrate.
[0064] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a computer system embodying the
memory devices described herein. Typically the memory device will
be fabricated as a sealed "chip". Ancillary circuitry on the chip
and/or in the computer permits writing bits into the memory and
retrieving the written information as desired. FIG. 7B illustrates
the memory devices of this invention integrated into a standard
computer architecture or computer system 200.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0065] As the size of features comprising, e.g. integrated
circuits, memory cells, and the like, shrink to nanoscale
dimensions, fewer and fewer molecules will be available to form
elements of those features. Consequently, as molecular electronics
devices are miniaturized, fewer molecules are available to store
charge (e.g. bit states) and it becomes increasingly difficult to
detect the stored charge.
[0066] This invention pertains to the discovery that one solution
to this problem is to stack information storage molecules (e.g.,
redox-active molecules) in the Z-dimension (the direction
perpendicular to the substrate surface). We have found that
porphyrinic macrocycles and other redox-active molecules can be
made to polymerize under the conditions that we typically employ
for forming monolayers on silicon, and other, surfaces (see, e.g.,
copending application U.S. Ser. No. 10/742,596, filed on Dec. 19,
2003). Moreover it was a surprising discovery that the redox-active
polymers are electrochemically robust (capable of many read/write
cycles) and exhibit charge-retention times that are comparable (or
longer) than those of monolayers of the same molecules.
I. Formation of Redox-Active Polymers on Surfaces.
[0067] A) "One-Step" Polymerization and Attachment.
[0068] In certain embodiments, the polymerization of redox-active
molecules to form polymers and their attachment to a surface is
performed in a "single step" polymerization. In this approach,
redox-active molecules are provided that bear two available
reactive sites or groups (the same or different). The molecules
(provided dry or in a solvent) are contacted to each other and to
the substrate surface at an elevated temperature (e.g. at least
about 200.degree. C., preferably at least about 300.degree. C., and
more preferably at least about 400.degree. C.) whereby the reactive
sites or groups react with each other and/or the substrate or a
site or reactive group on the substrate resulting in attachment of
the molecules to each other (thereby forming polymers) and to the
substrate (see, e.g., FIG. 1).
[0069] In various embodiments, the redox-active molecules are
preferably heat-resistant molecules and can be provided as a single
molecular species or as mixtures of different species of
molecules.
[0070] In various embodiments, the molecules can be heated and
contacted to the surface, and/or the surface can be heated, and/or
both the molecule(s) and the surface can be heated. In addition the
surface and/or the molecule(s) can be heated prior to contacting
each other and/or while they are in contact.
[0071] In certain embodiments, the redox-active molecules are
dissolved in an organic solvent (e.g., THF, mesitylene, durene,
o-dichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, 1-chloronaphthalene,
2-chloronaphthalene, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide,
N,N-dimethylpropionamide, benzonitrile, anisole, and the like). The
solvent containing the molecule can then be applied to the surface.
Heating can be accomplished by any of a variety of conventional
methods. For example, the solvent can be heated before application
to the surface. In certain embodiments, both the solvent and the
surface can be heated before the solvent is applied to the surface.
In certain preferred embodiments, the surface is heated after
application of the solvent. This is conveniently accomplished by
baking the surface (e.g., in an oven). In certain preferred
embodiments, the surface is heated (e.g., baked) under an inert
atmosphere (e.g., argon or other inert gas(es)).
[0072] In certain embodiments, particularly where large size wafers
(e.g. over 12 inches in diameter) are used for manufacture,
solvent-free methods of the present invention can be utilized. In
the solvent-free methods, layers of redox-active polymers (e.g.,
porphyrin polymers, phthalocyanine polymers, etc.) are formed on
desired surface (e.g., silicon, silicon dioxide, metals, metal
oxides metal nitrides, etc.) without the use of any solvents. In
other words, the attachment can be performed in a completely dry
environment. In various embodiments, this process converts the
solid phase molecules to the gas phase by heating them at
appropriate temperatures and then transporting the gas phase
molecules to the desired surface. This process also enables
separate control of the molecule and substrate temperature which
can assist in achieving maximum attachment density. This process
can be easily applied in production since similar techniques (e.g.
CVD and MBE) are already in use for depositing materials in the
semiconductor industry.
[0073] In one approach, the redox-active molecules are deposited in
a chamber containing the substrate (e.g. a Group III, IV, or V
element, a transition metal, a transition metal oxide or nitride,
etc.). The solvent is evaporated away leaving only the redox-active
molecules. The chamber is then heated volatilizing the molecules
which then contact and couple to the substrate surface and to each
other thereby forming attached polymers.
[0074] In another approach the redox-active molecules are placed in
the chamber as a dry powder. Again the chamber is heated
volatilizing the molecules which then contact and couple to the
substrate surface and to each other.
[0075] In certain embodiments, the molecules to be coupled to the
surface are deposited directly on the surface (e.g. in a dry form
or in a solvent which is then evaporated away). The molecule and/or
surface is then heated (e.g. to 200.degree. C. or more) and the
molecules couple to the surface (e.g. via an ionic, more preferably
via a covalent bond) and also form covalent bonds with each other
thereby forming a polymer.
[0076] Various parameters can be optimized for the polymerization
and attachment of any particular organic molecule. These include
(1) the concentration of the molecule(s), (2) the baking time, and
(3) the baking temperature; and 4) the reactive sites or groups.
After the molecules of interest are polymerized and attached to the
surface, cyclic voltammetry can be performed to evaluate the
resulting attached polymers. The characteristic features of the
voltammograms can indicate the efficacy of attachment and the
electrochemical behavior of the polymers (see, e.g., Li et al.
(2002 Appl. Phys. Lett. 81: 1494-1496; Roth et al. (2003) J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 125: 505-517).
[0077] In addition, it was a surprising discovery that baking times
as short as a few minutes (e.g., typically from about 1 sec to
about 1 hr, preferably from about 10 sec to about 30 min, more
preferably from about 1 minute to about 5, 10, or 15 minutes, and
most preferably from about 30 sec to about 1 or 2 minutes) afford
high surface coverage. In addition, short times minimize the amount
of energy that is used in the processing step.
[0078] It was also a surprising discovery that baking temperatures
as high as 400.degree. C. can be used with no degradation of the
molecules. This result is of importance in that many processing
steps in fabricating CMOS devices entail high temperature
processing. In certain embodiments, preferred baking temperatures
range from about 125.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C., preferably
from about 200.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C., more preferably
from about 250.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C., and most
preferably from about 300.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C.
[0079] A wide variety of reactive sites or groups can be used to
polymerize the redox-active molecules and to achieve surface
attachments. Such groups include, but are not limited to ethynyl,
ethyl, iodo plus ethynyl, bromo plus ethynyl, amine plus aldehyde,
amine plus isocyanate, amine plus isothiocyanate, aldehyde plus
acetyl, and the like. In certain preferred embodiments, the
reactive site or group is an ethynyl (e.g., ethynyl,
4-ethynylphenyl, 3-ethynylphenyl, 4-ethynylbiphenyl,
3-ethynylphenyl, 4-ethynylterphenyl, 3-ethynylterphenyl, etc.).
[0080] It will be noted that in certain embodiments, a substrate
can be provided derivatized with a reactive site or group or with a
linker bearing a reactive site or group that is different than the
reactive site or group(s) available on the redox-active molecules.
In such instances the substrate attachment chemistry will differ
from the polymerization chemistry.
[0081] In this context it is noted that diverse functional groups
are suitable for use in attachment to silicon or other substrates
(e.g. Group III, IV, or V elements, transition metals, transition
metal oxides or nitrides, transition metal alloys, etc.). Such
groups include, but are not limited to, alcohol, thiol,
S-acetylthiol, bromomethyl, allyl, iodoaryl, carboxaldehyde,
ethyne, vinyl, hydroxymethyl. It is also noted that such groups
such as ethyl, methyl, or arene afforded essentially no attachment
as demonstrated by the failure to achieve substantial attachment
with the zinc chelates of octaethylporphyrin,
meso-tetraphenylporphyrin, meso-tetra-p-tolylporphyrin, and
meso-tetramesitylporphyrin.
[0082] The successful attachment via S-acetylthiol, bromomethyl,
iodoaryl, and ethyne is unprecedented. The successful attachment
via the iodoaryl group is extraordinarily valuable in affording a
direct aryl-Si attachment. The resulting information-storage
molecules can be positioned vertically from the surface, which
facilitates subsequent patterning. The ability to attach via such
diverse functional groups provides great versatility.
[0083] While in certain embodiments, heating is accomplished by
placing the substrate in an oven, essentially any convenient
heating method can be utilized, and appropriate heating and
contacting methods can be optimized for particular (e.g.,
industrial) production contexts. Thus, for example, in certain
embodiments, heating can be accomplished by dipping the surface in
a hot solution containing the redox-active molecules that are to be
attached and polymerized. Local heating/patterning can be
accomplished using for example a hot contact printer, or a laser.
Heating can also be accomplished using forced air, a convection
oven, radiant heating, and the like. The foregoing embodiments are
intended to be illustrative rather than limiting.
[0084] B) "Multi-Step" Polymerization and Attachment.
[0085] In certain embodiments, this invention contemplates the use
of "multi-step" attachment and polymerization methods whereby the
attachment to the surface and/or the polymerization of the
redox-active molecules is achieved in a "stepwise" manner. One such
approach, proceeds as outlined in FIG. 1. One such approach
proceeds is illustrated in FIG. 2. First, a linker L.sup.1 bearing
a surface attachment group Z.sup.1 and reactive functional site or
group Y.sup.1 is exposed under appropriate conditions to the
surface (e.g., electrode), whereupon binding occurs. The linker can
be a linear structure with a single binding site or a multi-legged
linker with multiple binding sites for attachment to the surface.
In certain embodiments, the linker can itself constitute a
charge-storage molecule. Then, a redox-active molecule (e.g.,
charge-storage molecule) (M) bearing a functional group X.sup.1
complementary to that of Y.sup.1 (but not to Y.sup.2) is added and
polymerization is performed, giving binding of X.sup.1 and Y.sup.1
and yielding a polymeric array of charge-storage molecules. A
counterelectrode can then, optionally, be attached to the polymeric
array. One advantage of this approach is that the linker can be
attached to a surface to which the reactive groups for
polymerization might not attach.
[0086] Another variant of this approach is shown in FIG. 3. In this
approach, the polymerization is done in the presence of a
redox-active molecule having only one available reactive site or
group. This can be accomplished by providing a mono-derivatized
redox-active molecule and/or by providing a redox-active molecule
having multiple reactive sites or groups all except one of which
are blocked, and/or by providing a redox-active molecule having
multiple reactive sites or groups all of which are blocked and
selectively deblocking a single reactive site or group. The
redox-active molecule having one available reactive site or group
functions as a capping agent, causing termination of the
polymerization process. Additional examples of this approach
include use of capping agents that also have functional groups onto
which electrode deposition can be performed.
[0087] In certain embodiments, such stepwise methods can also be
performed by providing a substrate (e.g. a chip comprising one or
more electrodes) already derivatized with a reactive site or group
and/or derivatized with a linker bearing a reactive site or group
and then simply performing the polymerization reaction, e.g., as
described above.
[0088] These embodiments, are intended to be illustrative and not
limiting. Using the teaching provided herein, other
attachment/polymerization schemes can be devised.
[0089] C) Varying Polymer Formation and Design.
[0090] Variations in the molecular design of the attached polymers
can be achieved by a number of methods. Such methods include, for
example altering the pattern of substituents about the porphryinic
macrocycle. Two ethynes can be located in a cis configuration
(e.g., molecule No. 192), a trans configuration (e.g., molecule No.
197), at meta positions of one meso-aryl ring (e.g., molecule No.
207), or other configurations such as at the .beta.-positions of
the porphyrinic macrocycle. Combinations of such substitutions are
possible. Admixtures of ethynyl porphyrins also can be
employed.
[0091] In addition, the porosity of the cross-linked film can be
controlled in at least two ways: (1) by altering the facial
encumbrance of the groups appended to the porphyrin, as shown for
the series of molecules No. 197, 200, and 201; and the set 192 and
217; and (2) by extending the length of the linker between the
porphyrin and the ethyne group, as shown for molecules No. 217 and
219. Thus, for example, In certain embodiments, longer linkers can
be employed.
II. The Substrate.
[0092] In the methods of this invention, the redox-active
(information storage) molecules are typically ultimately coupled to
a surface. The surface can be an inert and/or non-conductive
surface. More typically, however, the surface will be the surface
of an electrode and/or a counterelectrode.
[0093] The electrode and/or counter electrodes are typically
fabricated of materials capable of conducting electrons. The
electrodes and/or counterelectrodes can comprise conductors,
semiconductors, superconductors, and the like. In certain
embodiments, the electrodes and/or counterelectrodes have a
resistivity of less than about 10.sup.-2 ohm-meters, preferably
less than about 10.sup.-3 ohm-meters, more preferably less than
about 10.sup.-4 ohm-meters, and most preferably less than about
10.sup.-5 or 10.sup.-6 ohm-meters.
[0094] The methods of this invention are suitable for forming
polymers of redox-active molecules covalently attached to
essentially any or all Group II, III, IV, V, or VI materials (e.g.,
Group II, III, IV, V, or VI elements, semiconductors, and/or oxides
thereof) and/or to transition metals, transition metal oxides,
transition metal nitrides, alloys or composites comprising
transition metals, and the like. In certain preferred embodiments,
the substrates comprise all Group III, IV, or V materials (e.g.,
carbon, silicon, germanium, tin, lead), doped Group II, III, IV, V,
and VI elements, or oxides of pure or doped Group II, III, IV, V,
or VI elements or transition metals, transition metal oxides or
transition metal nitrides. In certain preferred embodiments the
surface is Group III, IV, or V material, more preferably a Group IV
material (oxide, and/or doped variant), still more preferably a
silicon or germanium surface or a doped and/or oxidized silicon or
germanium surface.
[0095] It will be understood from the teachings herein that in
certain embodiments, the materials that can be used for a substrate
include, but are not limited to Si, Ge, SiC, Au, Ag, Cu, Al, Ta,
Ti, Ru, Ir, Pt, Pd, Os, Mn, Hf, Zr, V, Nb, La, Y, Gd, Sr, Ba, Cs,
Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Ga, In, Cd, Rh, Re, W, and their oxides and
nitrides.
[0096] The group II, III, IV, V, or VI element, transition metal,
transition metal oxide or nitride can be essentially pure, or it
can be doped (e.g., p- or n-doped) and/or alloyed. P- and n-dopants
for use with Group II-VI elements, in particular for use with
Groups III, IV, and V elements, more particularly for use with
Group IV elements (e.g., silicon, germanium, etc.) are well known
to those of skill in the art. Such dopants include, but are not
limited to phosphorous compounds, boron compounds, arsenic
compounds, aluminum compounds, and the like. Many doped Group II,
III, IV, V, or VI elements are semiconductors and include, but are
not limited to ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, CdSe, CdTe, MgS, MgSe, MgTe,
CaS, CaSe, CaTe, SrS, SrSe, SrTe, BaS, BaSe, BaTe, GaN, GaP, GaAs,
GaSb, InP, InAs, InSb, AlS, AlP, AlSb, PbS, PbSe, Ge and Si and
ternary and quaternary mixtures thereof.
[0097] The surface can take essentially any form. For example, it
can be provided as a planar substrate, an etched substrate, a
deposited domain on another substrate, a deposited or etched well,
and the like. Particularly preferred forms include those forms of
common use in solid state electronics fabrication processes.
[0098] Although not necessarily required, in certain embodiments
the surface is cleaned before use, e.g., using standard methods
known to those of skill in the art. Thus, for example, in one
preferred embodiment, the surface can be cleaned by sonication in a
series of solvents (e.g., acetone, toluene, ethanol, and water) and
then exposed to a standard wafer-cleaning solution (e.g., Piranha
(sulfuric acid: 30% hydrogen peroxide, 2:1)) at an elevated
temperature (e.g., 100.degree. C.).
[0099] In certain embodiments, oxides can be removed from the
substrate surface and the surface can be hydrogen passivated. A
number of approaches to hydrogen passivation are well known to
those of skill in the art. For example, in one approach, a flow of
molecular hydrogen is passed through dense microwave plasma across
a magnetic field. The magnetic field serves to protect the sample
surface from being bombarded by charged particles. Hence the
crossed beam (CB) method makes it possible to avoid plasma etching
and heavy ion bombardment that are so detrimental for many
semiconductor devices (see, e.g., Balmashnov, et al. (1990)
Semiconductor Science and Technology, 5: 242). In one particularly
preferred embodiment, passivation is achieved by contacting the
surface to be passivated with an ammonium fluoride solution
(preferably sparged of oxygen).
[0100] Other methods of cleaning and passivating surfaces are known
to those of skill in the art (see, e.g., Choudhury (1997) The
Handbook of Microlithography, Micromachining, and Microfabrication,
Soc. Photo-Optical Instru. Engineer, Bard & Faulkner (1997)
Fundamentals of Microfabrication, and the like).
III. The Redox-Active Molecules.
[0101] It was a surprising discovery that a large number of
redox-active organic molecules are sufficiently heat-resistant to
be amenable and even quite effective in the methods of this
invention. Suitable heat-resistant organic molecules typically
include, but are not limited to metallocenes (e.g., ferrocene),
porphyrins, expanded porphyrins, contracted porphyrins, linear
porphyrin polymers, porphyrin sandwich coordination complexes,
porphyrin arrays, and phthalocyanines.
[0102] Certain preferred heat-resistant organic molecules include,
but are not limited to
5-[4-(S-acetylthiomethyl)phenyl]-10,15,20-trimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5-[4-(mercaptomethyl)phenyl]-10,15,20-trimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5-[4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]-10,15,20-trimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5-[4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]-10,15,20-tri-p-tolylporphinatozinc(II),
5-(4-allylphenyl)-10,15,20-trimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5-(4-formylphenyl)-15-phenyl-10,20-di-p-tolylporphinatozinc(II),
5-(4-bromomethylphenyl)-10,15,20-trimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5-(4-ethynylphenyl)-10,15,20-trimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5-(4-iodophenyl)-10,15,20-trimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5-(4-bromophenyl)-10,15,20-tri-p-tolylporphinatozinc(II),
5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-trimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5,10-bis(4-ethynylphenyl)-15,20-dimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5-[4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl]-10,20-bis(3,5-d-
i-tert-butylphenyl)-15-mesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5-iodo-10,20-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-15-mesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5,10-bis(4-iodophenyl)-15,20-dimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5-[4-(2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl)phenyl]-10,15,20-trimesitylporphinatozinc-
(II), 5,15-bis(4-ethynylphenyl)-10,20-dimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5,15-bis(4-iodophenyl)-10,20-dimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5,10,15-tris(4-ethynylphenyl)-20-mesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5,15-bis(4-ethynylphenyl)-10,20-bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)porphinatozinc(II)-
, 5,15-bis(4-ethynylphenyl)porphinatozinc(II),
5,15-bis(3-ethynylphenyl)-10,20-dimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-ethynylphenyl)porphinatozinc(II),
5,10-bis[4-(2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl)phenyl]-15,20-dimesitylporphinatozi-
nc(II),
5-(3,5-diethynylphenyl)-10,15,20-trimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
3,7-dibromo-10,20-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-15-mesitylporphinatozinc(I-
I),
5-[4-(2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl)phenyl]-10,15,20-tri-p-tolylporphinato-
zinc(II),
5-[4-(Se-acetylselenomethyl)phenyl]-10,15,20-trimesitylporphinat-
ozinc(II),
5-(4-iodophenyl)-10,20-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)-15-mesitylp-
orphinatozinc(II),
5,10-bis(4-ethynylphenyl)-15,20-bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)porphinatozinc(II)-
,
5,10-bis(4-ethynylbiphen-4'-yl)-15,20-bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)porphinatoz-
inc(II), 5-(4-vinylphenyl)-10,15,20-trimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5-(4-vinylphenyl)-10,15,20-tri-p-tolylporphinatozinc(II),
5-(hydroxymethyl)-10,15,20-trimesitylporphinatozinc(II),
5-(4-allylphenyl)-10,15,20-tri-p-tolylporphinatozinc(II),
5-(4-allylphenyl)-10,15,20-tri-p-tolylporphinatocopper(II), type c
triple decker
[(tert-butyl).sub.4phthalocyaninato]Eu[(tert-butyl).sub.4phthalocy-
aninato]Eu[5,15-bis(4-ethynylphenyl)-10,20-bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)porphyri-
n], type c triple decker
[(tert-butyl).sub.4phthalocyaninato]Eu[(tert-butyl).sub.4phthalocyaninato-
]Eu[5-[4-[2-(4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl)ethynyl]phenyl]-10,15,20-tri-p-tolylp-
orphyrin],
5,10-bis[4-(2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl)biphen-4'-yl]-15,20-bi-
s(4-tert-butylphenyl)porphinatozinc(II),
5,10-bis[4-(2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl)phenyl]-15,20-bis(4-tert-butylph-
enyl)porphinatozinc(II), and the like.
[0103] In certain embodiments, the redox-active molecules are
porphyrins. Suitable substituents on the non-linking positions of
the porphyrins include, but are not limited to aryl, phenyl,
cycloalkyl, alkyl, halogen, alkoxy, alkylthio, perfluoroalkyl,
perfluoroaryl, pyridyl, cyano, thiocyanato, nitro, amino,
alkylamino, acyl, sulfoxyl, sulfonyl, amido, and carbamoyl.
Particularly preferred substituents include, but are not limited to
4-methylphenyl, 4-t-butylphenyl, 4-trifluoromethylphenyl, pentyl,
and H (no substituent).
[0104] In certain embodiments, the redox-active molecules are
phthalocyanines. Suitable substituents on the non-linking positions
of the phthalocyanines include, but are not limited to aryl,
phenyl, cycloalkyl, alkyl, halogen, alkoxy, alkylthio,
perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroaryl, pyridyl, cyano, thiocyanato, nitro,
amino, alkylamino, acyl, sulfoxyl, sulfonyl, amido, and carbamoyl.
Particularly preferred substituents include, but are not limited to
methyl, t-butyl, butoxy, fluoro, and H (no substituent).
[0105] Certain particularly preferred redox-active molecules
derivatized with ethyne reactive groups are illustrated in Table 1
and FIG. 4.
[0106] The suitability of particular redox-active molecules for use
in the methods of this invention can readily be determined. The
molecule(s) of interest are simply polymerized and coupled to a
surface (e.g., a hydrogen passivated surface) according to the
methods of this invention. Then sinusoidal voltammetry can be
performed (e.g., as described herein or in U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,272,038, 6,212,093, and 6,208,553, PCT Publication WO 01/03126,
or by (Roth et al. (2000) Vac. Sci. Technol. B 18: 2359-2364; Roth
et al. (2003) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125: 505-517) to evaluate 1)
whether or not the molecule(s) coupled to the surface, 2) the
degree of coverage (coupling); 3) whether or not the molecule(s)
are degraded during the coupling procedure, and 4) the stability of
the molecule(s) to multiple read/write operations.
[0107] It is also noted that where certain redox-active molecules
decompose at particular sites at high temperature (e.g.,
200.degree. C. to 400.degree. C.) the "reactive" site can often be
derivatized with a stable protecting group. The molecule can be
coupled to the surface according to the methods of this invention
and the protecting group can then be chemically removed from the
organic molecule.
[0108] The redox-active molecule can be provided in dried form, in
a solvent, dispersion, emulsion, paste, gel, or the like. Preferred
solvents, pastes, gels, emulsions, dispersions, etc., are solvents
that can be applied to the Group II, II, IV, V, and/or VI
material(s), and/or transition metals and/or oxides or nitrides
thereof without substantially degrading that substrate and that
solubilize or suspend, but do not degrade the redox-active
molecule(s) that are to be coupled to the substrate. In certain
embodiments, preferred solvents include high boiling point solvents
(e.g., solvents with an initial boiling point greater than about
130.degree. C., preferably greater than about 150.degree. C., more
preferably greater than about 180.degree. C.). Such solvents
include, but are not limited to benzonitrile, dimethylformamide,
xylene, ortho-dichlorobenzene, and the like.
IV. Surface Attachment Groups Linker Selection and Optimizing
Memory Architecture.
[0109] In certain embodiments, the redox-active polymers are
attached to the substrate by a linker, preferably by an
electrically conductive linker and/or are attached to each other
(in the polymer) by one or more linkers. In order to achieve fast
writing and/or erasing at low voltages and a small cell size, in
memory devices made using the methods of this invention, the
scaling of the linkers (e.g., L.sup.1) can be optimized.
[0110] Optimum linker size can be calculated theoretically (see,
e.g., U.S. Ser. No. 60/473,782, filed on May 27, 2003).
Alternatively linkers can be evaluated empirically simply by
coupling the redox-active polymer to a surface, e.g. as described
herein, and performing voltammetry to evaluate the electrochemical
properties of the attached polymer.
[0111] In certain embodiments, the redox-active polymer is coupled
to the surface through a linker (L) and an attachment group (Z). Z
may be a protected or unprotected reactive site or group on the
linker. Such groups include, but are not limited to a carboxylic
acid, an alcohol, a thiol, a selenol, a tellurol, a phosphonic
acid, a phosphonothioate, an amine, a nitrile, 4-formylphenyl,
4-(bromomethyl)phenyl, 4-vinylphenyl, 4-ethynylphenyl,
4-allylphenyl, 4-[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]phenyl, 4-bromophenyl,
4-iodophenyl,
4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl, bromo, iodo,
formyl, bromomethyl, chloromethyl, ethynyl, vinyl, allyl,
4-(ethynyl)biphen-4'-yl,
4-[2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]biphen-4'-yl, 3,5-diethynylphenyl,
and 2-bromoethyl. It is understood that attachment to the electrode
can be accompanied by loss of a proton (or protecting group) on the
reactive site Z. Z-L can be attached to a charge-storage molecule
(Z-L-CSM-ethyne) or can be used directly for polymerization
(Z-L-ethyne).
[0112] In certain preferred embodiments, the attachment group
comprises an aryl or an alkyl group. Certain preferred aryl groups
include a functional group such as bromo, iodo, hydroxy,
hydroxymethyl, formyl, bromomethyl, vinyl, allyl,
S-acetylthiomethyl, Se-acetylselenomethyl, ethynyl,
2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl, mercapto, mercaptomethyl,
4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl, and
dihydroxyphosphoryl. Certain preferred alkyls include a functional
group such as bromo, iodo, hydroxy, formyl, vinyl, mercapto,
selenyl, S-acetylthio, Se-acetylseleno, ethynyl,
2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl,
4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl, and
dihydroxyphosphoryl.
[0113] In certain embodiments the attachment groups include, but
are not limited to alcohols, thiols, S-acetylthiols, bromomethyls,
allyls, iodoaryls, carboxaldehydes, ethynes, and the like. In
certain embodiments, the attachment groups include, but are not
limited to 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl, 4-(S-acetylthiomethyl)phenyl,
4-(Se-acetylselenomethyl)phenyl, 4-(mercaptomethyl)phenyl,
4-(hydroselenomethyl)phenyl, 4-formylphenyl, 4-(bromomethyl)phenyl,
4-vinylphenyl, 4-ethynylphenyl, 4-allylphenyl,
4-[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]phenyl, 4-bromophenyl,
4-iodophenyl, 4-hydroxyphenyl,
4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl bromo, iodo,
hydroxymethyl, S-acetylthiomethyl, Se-acetylselenomethyl,
mercaptomethyl, hydroselenomethyl, formyl, bromomethyl,
chloromethyl, ethynyl, vinyl, allyl,
4-[2-(4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl)ethynyl]phenyl,
4-(ethynyl)biphen-4'-yl,
4-[2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]biphen-4'-yl, 3,5-diethynylphenyl,
2-bromoethyl, and the like. These attachment groups are meant to be
illustrative and not limiting.
[0114] Examples of suitable linkers and attachment groups (L-Z-)
include, but are not limited to 4-carboxyphenyl, carboxymethyl,
2-carboxyethyl, 3-carboxypropyl, 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)ethynyl,
4-(2-(4-carboxyphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl, 4-carboxymethylphenyl,
4-(3-carboxypropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; (b) 4-hydroxyphenyl,
hydroxymethyl, 2-hydroxyethyl, 3-hydroxypropyl,
2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethynyl, 4-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl,
4-hydroxymethylphenyl, 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl,
4-(3-hydroxypropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-hydroxymethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; (c) 4-mercaptophenyl,
mercaptomethyl, 2-mercaptoethyl, 3-mercaptopropyl,
2-(4-mercaptophenyl)ethynyl, 4-(2-(4-mercaptophenyl)ethynyl)phenyl,
4-mercaptomethylphenyl, 4-(2-mercaptoethyl)phenyl,
4-(3-mercaptopropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-mercaptomethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; (d) 4-selenylphenyl,
selenylmethyl, 2-selenylethyl, 3-selenylpropyl,
2-(4-selenylphenyl)ethynyl, 4-selenylmethylphenyl,
4-(2-selenylethyl)phenyl, 4-(3-selenylpropyl)phenyl,
4-selenylmethylphenyl, 4-(2-(4-selenylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; (e)
4-tellurylphenyl, tellurylmethyl, 2-tellurylethyl,
3-tellurylpropyl, 2-(4-tellurylphenyl)ethynyl,
4-(2-(4-tellurylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl, 4-tellurylmethylphenyl,
4-(2-tellurylethyl)phenyl, 4-(3-tellurylpropyl)phenyl,
4-(2-(4-tellurylmethylphenyl)ethynyl)phenyl; (f)
4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl, (dihydroxyphosphoryl)methyl,
2-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)ethyl, 3-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)propyl,
2-[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl,
4-[2-[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[(dihydroxyphosphoryl)methyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)ethyl]phenyl,
4-[2-[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)methylphenyl]ethynyl]phenyl; (g)
4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)phenyl,
(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)methyl,
2-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)ethyl,
3-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)propyl,
2-[4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl,
4-[2-[4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)phenyl]ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)methyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)ethyl]phenyl,
4-[2-[4-(hydroxy(mercapto)phosphoryl)methylphenyl]ethynyl]phenyl;
(h) 4-cyanophenyl, cyanomethyl, 2-cyanoethyl, 3-cyanopropyl,
2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethynyl, 4-[2-(4-cyanophenyl)ethynyl]phenyl,
4-(cyanomethyl)phenyl, 4-(2-cyanoethyl)phenyl,
4-[2-[4-(cyanomethyl)phenyl]ethynyl]phenyl; 4-cyanobiphenyl,
(i)-4-aminophenyl, aminomethyl, 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl,
2-(4-aminophenyl)ethynyl, 4-[2-(4-aminophenyl)ethynyl]phenyl,
4-aminobiphenyl, and the like.
[0115] Additional surface attachment groups include, but are not
limited to: 4-formylphenyl, 4-(bromomethyl)phenyl, 4-vinylphenyl,
4-ethynylphenyl, 4-allylphenyl,
4-[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]phenyl,
4-[2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]phenyl, 4-bromophenyl,
4-iodophenyl, 4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)phenyl
bromo, iodo, formyl, bromomethyl, chloromethyl, ethynyl, vinyl,
allyl, 4-(ethynyl)biphen-4'-yl,
4-[2-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl]biphen-4'-yl, 3,5-diethynylphenyl,
2-bromoethyl, and the like.
[0116] In addition to the monodentate linker-surface attachment
groups described above, multidentate linkers can be employed (see,
e.g., [Nikitin (2003) Chem. Commun., 282-283; Hu and Mattern (2000)
J. Org. Chem., 65, 2277-2281; Yao and Tour (1999) Org. Chem., 64:
1968-1971; Fox et al. (1998) Langmuir, 14, 816-820; Galoppini and
Guo (2001) Am. Chem. Soc., 123: 43424343; Deng et al. (2002) Org.
Chem., 67: 5279-5283; Hecto et al. (2001) Surface Science, 494,
1-20; Whitesell and Chang (1993) Science, 261, 73-76; Galoppini et
al. (2002) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 67: 7801-7811; Siiman et al.
Bioconjugate Chem., 11: 549-556).
[0117] Tripodal linkers bearing thiol, carboxylic acid, alcohol, or
phosphonic acid units are particularly attractive for firmly
anchoring a molecular device in an upright configuration on a
planar surface. Specific examples of such linkers are built around
the triphenylmethane or tetraphenylmethane unit, including, but are
not limited to: 1,1,1-tris[4-(S-acetylthiomethyl)phenyl]methyl,
4-{1,1,1-tris[4-(S-acetylthiomethyl)phenyl]methyl}phenyl,
1,1,1-tris[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl]methyl,
4-{1,1,1-tris[4-(dihydroxyphosphoryl)phenyl]methyl}phenyl,
1,1,1-tris[4-(dihydroxyphosphorylmethyl)phenyl]methyl,
4-{1,1,1-tris[4-(dihydroxyphosphorylmethyl)phenyl]methyl}phenyl,
and the like.
[0118] The suitability of other attachment groups can readily be
evaluated. A redox-active polymer bearing the attachment group(s)
of interest (directly or on a linker) is coupled to a substrate
(e.g., hydrogen-passivated silicon) according to the methods
described herein. The efficacy of attachment can then be evaluated
electrochemically, e.g., using sinusoidal voltammetry as described
above.
V. Patterning the Organic Molecule(s) on the Substrate
[0119] In certain embodiments, the methods of this invention are
performed to form redox-active polymers attached to form a uniform
film across the surface of the substrate. In other embodiments, the
redox-active polymers are formed at one or more discrete locations
on the surface. In certain embodiments, different redox-active
molecules/polymers are formed at different locations on the
surface.
[0120] The location at which the redox-active polymers are formed
can be accomplished by any of a number of means. For example, in
certain embodiments, the solution(s) comprising the organic
molecule(s) can be selectively deposited at particular locations on
the surface. In certain other embodiments, the solution can be
uniformly deposited on the surface and selective domains can be
heated. In certain embodiments, the organic molecules can be
coupled to the entire surface and then selectively etched away from
certain areas.
[0121] The most common approach to selectively contacting the
surface with the redox-active molecule(s) involves masking the
areas of the surface that are to be free of the redox-active
polymers so that the solution or gas phase comprising the
molecule(s) cannot come in contact with those areas. This is
readily accomplished by coating the substrate with a masking
material (e.g., a polymer resist) and selectively etching the
resist off of areas that are to be coupled. Alternatively a
photoactivatible resist can be applied to the surface and
selectively activated (e.g., via UV light) in areas that are to be
protected. Such "photolithographic" methods are well known in the
semiconductor industry (see e.g., Van Zant (2000) Microchip
Fabrication: A Practical Guide to Semiconductor Processing; Nishi
and Doering (2000) Handbook of Semiconductor Manufacturing
Technology; Xiao (2000) Introduction to Semiconductor Manufacturing
Technology; Campbell (1996) The Science and Engineering of
Microelectronic Fabrication (Oxford Series in Electrical
Engineering), Oxford University Press, and the like). In addition,
the resist can be patterned on the surface simply by contact
printing the resist onto the surface.
[0122] In other approaches, the surface is uniformly contacted with
the molecules. The redox-active polymers can then be selectively
etched off the surface in areas that are to be molecule free.
Etching methods are well know to those of skill in the art and
include, but are not limited to plasma etching, laser etching, acid
etching, and the like.
[0123] Other approaches involve contact printing of the reagents,
e.g., using a contact print head shaped to selectively deposit the
reagent(s) in regions that are to be coupled, use of an inkjet
apparatus (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,653) to selectively
deposit reagents in particular areas, use of dams to selectively
confine reagents to particular regions, and the like.
[0124] In certain preferred embodiments, the
attachment/polymerization reaction is repeated several times. After
the reaction(s) are complete, uncoupled organic molecules are
washed off of the surface, e.g., using standard wash steps (e.g.,
benzonitrile wash followed by sonication in dry methylene
chloride).
[0125] The foregoing methods are intended to be illustrative. In
view of the teachings provided herein, other approaches will be
evident to those of skill in the semiconductor fabrication
arts.
VI. Industrial Scale-Up.
[0126] The methods of this invention are readily scaled up for use
in commercial manufacturing operations. One such scaled-up approach
is illustrated in FIG. 5. This figure illustrates a two-zone
furnace 1 for gas phase molecular attachment. In this device, the
molecule powder 2 is kept in one zone and the wafers 3 are kept in
a different zone. Each zone can be individually heated (e.g. by a
heater(s) 4, 5 that can be independently regulated by a single
heater control or by separate heater controls (6 and 7 in the
illustration). Each zone can be independently heated to the
required temperature. One can control the molecule vapor pressure
by changing the temperature. This system also allows the use of a
carrier gas (e.g. Ar, N.sub.2, etc.), fed through a gas inlet 8,
through the oven to a gas outlet 9, which can be used to transport
the molecule vapors to the wafers in other zone. This furnace can
also be operated at low pressures (sub-atmospheric) by evacuating
the system with a pump at the outlet of carrier gas. The low
pressure process allows the molecule vapor pressure to be
controlled very precisely. Also, it reduces the amount of
impurities compared to the atmospheric process.
[0127] Another equipment configuration, illustrated FIG. 6, is
suitable for high vacuum operation of the gas phase molecular
attachment method. In this approach, the substrate 3 is placed in a
vacuum furnace chamber 20. The molecule(s) that are to be attached
are kept in an effusion cell (e.g. a knudson-cell (K-cell), for
example the Low Temperature Effusion Cell by Specs) 22 which is
controlled by an effusion cell controller 24. By opening and
closing the shutter 26 on the K-cell, one can control the amount of
molecules that can reach the substrate surface and form an attached
monolayer 28.
[0128] These methods are meant to be illustrative and not limiting.
Using the teachings provided herein, one of skill in the art can
devise numerous approaches for heating and contacting the molecules
described herein with a surface. Devices and methods for heating
and/or volatilizing the heat-resistant molecules or mixtures of
such molecules and patterning or uniformly depositing them on a
surface at elevated temperature are commercially available and well
known to those of skill in the art. Such methods include, but are
not limited to molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) (equipment available
for example, from SPECS Scientific Instruments, Inc., Florida),
chemical vapor deposition (CVD) (equipment available, for example,
from CVD Equipment Corp.), Liquid Phase Epitaxial deposition (LPE)
(equipment available, for example, from CVD Equipment Corp.,
Ronkonkoma, N.Y.), and the like.
VII. Uses of Redox-Active Polymers Coupled to a Substrate.
[0129] The methods of this invention can be used to form
redox-active polymers covalently attached to a Group II, III, IV,
V, or VI material surface, preferably to a Group III, IV, or V
surface and/or to a transition metal (or metal oxide or nitride)
surface.
[0130] The attached redox-active polymers can be used to fabricate
a wide variety of hybrid components and/or devices (e.g. field
effect transistors, sensors, memory elements, etc.). In certain
embodiments, the methods are used to assemble hybrid memory devices
where information is stored in a redox-active information storage
molecule.
[0131] In "molecular memory" redox-active molecules (molecules
having one or more non-zero redox states) coupled to the transition
metals and/or Group II, III, IV, V, or VI materials described
herein are used to store bits (e.g., each redox state can represent
a bit). The redox-active molecule attached to the substrate
material (e.g., silicon, germanium, etc.) forms a storage cell
capable of storing one or more bits in various oxidation states. In
certain embodiments, the storage cell is characterized by a fixed
electrode electrically coupled to a "storage medium" comprising one
or more redox-active molecules and having a multiplicity of
different and distinguishable oxidation states. Data is stored in
the (preferably non-neutral) oxidation states by the addition or
withdrawal of one or more electrons from said storage medium via
the electrically coupled electrode. The oxidation state of the
redox-active molecule(s) can be set and/or read using
electrochemical methods (e.g., cyclic voltammetry), e.g., as
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,272,038, 6,212,093, and 6,208,553 and
PCT Publication WO 01/03126.
[0132] Because transition metals and group II, III, IV, V, and VI
materials, in particular group IV materials (e.g., silicon,
germanium, etc.), are commonly used in electronic chip fabrication,
the methods provided herein readily lend themselves to the
fabrication of molecular memory chips compatible with existing
processing/fabrication technologies. In addition, details on the
construction and use of storage cells comprising redox-active
molecules can be found, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,272,038, 6,212,093, and
6,208,553 and PCT Publication WO 01/03126.
VIII. Use of the Storage Device in Computer Systems.
[0133] The use of the storage devices fabricated according to the
methods of this invention in computer systems is contemplated. One
such computer system is illustrated in FIG. 7A. The computer
comprises a signal source (e.g. I/O device or CPU), a storage
device of this invention and appropriate circuitry (e.g.
voltammetry circuitry) to read the state(s) of the storage device.
In operation, voltages representing the bits to be stored are
applied to the working electrodes of the storage device thereby
setting the memory. When retrieval is necessary (e.g. for output,
or further processing) the state(s) of the storage device is read
by the I/O circuitry and the information is passed off to other
elements (e.g. CPU) in the computer.
[0134] FIG. 7B illustrates the memory devices of this invention
integrated into a standard computer architecture or computer system
200. The hardware of system 200 includes a processor (CPU) 205, a
memory 206 (which can comprise molecular memory devices), a
persistent storage 208 which does comprise molecular memory devices
of this invention, and hardware for a graphical user interface
(GUI) 220, coupled by a local bus or interface 210. The persistent
memory 208 can include the elements shown in FIG. 7A. System 200
can further include additional hardware components (not shown).
[0135] System 200 can be, for example, a personal computer or
workstation. Processor 205 can be, for example, a microprocessor,
such as the 80386, 80486 or Pentium.TM. microprocessor, made by
Intel Corp. (Santa Clara, Calif.). Memory 206 can include, for
example, random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM),
virtual memory, molecular memory (FIG. 11) or any other working
storage medium or media accessible by processor 205. Persistent
storage 208 can include a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical or
magneto-optical disk, a molecular memory or any other persistent
storage medium. GUI 220 facilitates communications between a user
and system 200. Its hardware includes a visual display 221 and a
selector device (mouse, keyboard, etc.) 222. Through visual display
221, system 200 can deliver graphical and textual output to the
user. From selector device 222, system 200 can receive inputs
indicating the user's selection of particular windows, menus, and
menu items. Visual display 221 can include, for example, a
cathode-ray tube (CRT) or flat-panel display screen, or a
head-mounted display such as a virtual reality display. Selector
device 222 can be, for example, a two-dimensional pointing device
such as a mouse, a trackball, a track pad, a stylus, a joystick, or
the like. Alternatively or additionally, selector device 222 can
include a keyboard, such as an alphanumeric keyboard with function
and cursor-control keys.
[0136] The software of system 200 includes an operating system 250
and an application program 260. The software of system 200 can
further include additional application programs (not shown).
Operating system 150 can be, for example, the Microsoft.RTM.
Windows.TM. 95 operating system for IBM PC and compatible computers
having or emulating Intel 80386, 80486, or Pentium.TM. processors.
Alternatively, the operating system can be specialized for
operation utilizing molecular memory elements. Application program
160 is any application compatible with the operating system and
system 200 architecture. Persons of skill in the art will
appreciate that a wide range of hardware and software
configurations can support the system and method of the present
invention in various specific embodiments.
EXAMPLES
[0137] The following examples are offered to illustrate, but not to
limit the claimed invention.
Example 1
Cyclic Voltammetry And Coverage Summary of Redox-Active Molecules
Containing Ethynyl Groups
[0138] Porphyrins bearing two (or more) ethynyl groups were made to
polymerize under the conditions that we typically employ for
forming monolayers on Si (or other) surfaces. The porphyrins were
dissolved in a small quantity of organic solvent. Then a small drop
of the solvent containing the molecules was deposited on a silicon
substrate. The substrate was baked (e.g., at 200.degree. C. to
400.degree. C.) under an inert (argon) atmosphere. The porphyrins
formed porphyrin polymers covalently linked to the silicon surface.
The polymers were electrochemically robust and exhibit
charge-retention times that are comparable (or longer) than those
of monolayers of the same molecules.
[0139] FIG. 1 shows the series of molecules that were investigated
for polymerization. The polymer can be readily detected
electrochemically because the surface coverage is dramatically
higher than that exhibited by a monolayer. In particular, porphyrin
monolayers on Si do not exceed a surface coverage of
.about.10.sup.-10 mol cm.sup.-2. This behavior is shown by molecule
No. 184, which contains a single ethynyl group. In contrast,
molecules 192 and 197, which contain two ethynyl groups in a cis-
or trans-configuration, exhibit surface coverages that are more
than 50-fold larger. On the other hand, when more than two ethynyl
groups are present, polymerization occurs but the voltammetric
response is poorer (molecules No. 199 and 204). The poor
voltammetric response is likely due to extensive cross-linking of
the molecules that are growing off the surface. We anticipate that
the extent of cross-linking can be controlled by molecular design
and adjustment of the details of the preparation procedures.
[0140] Note that porphyrins bearing a suitable pattern of free
ethynes (RCCH) afford polymerization while those with capped
ethynes do not. The difference in reactivity is evidenced by
comparison of molecules No. 217 (free ethynes; film) and No. 216
(TIPS capped ethynes; SAM); and molecules No. 219 (free ethynes;
film) and No. 218 (TMS capped ethynes; SAM).
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Cyclic voltammetry and coverage summary of
redox-active molecules containing ethynyl groups Molecule Layer
Cyclic Coverage No. Structure Type Voltammogram (mol/cm.sup.2) 184
##STR00001## SAM ##STR00002## 9.75 .times. 10.sup.-11 192
##STR00003## Film ##STR00004## 5.6 .times. 10.sup.-9 196
##STR00005## SAM ##STR00006## 5.29 .times. 10.sup.-11 197
##STR00007## Film ##STR00008## 7.52 .times. 10.sup.-9 199
##STR00009## Film ##STR00010## N/A 200 ##STR00011## Film
##STR00012## 2.1 .times. 10.sup.-10 201 ##STR00013## Film
##STR00014## N/A 202 ##STR00015## SAM ##STR00016## 1.45 .times.
10.sup.-11 204 ##STR00017## Film ##STR00018## 1.57 .times.
10.sup.-10 205 ##STR00019## N/A ##STR00020## 1.55 .times.
10.sup.-11 206 ##STR00021## SAM ##STR00022## 4.81 .times.
10.sup.-11 207 ##STR00023## Film ##STR00024## 9.86 .times.
10.sup.-10 209 ##STR00025## SAM ##STR00026## 8.9 .times. 10.sup.-12
216 ##STR00027## SAM ##STR00028## 2 .times. 10.sup.-11 217
##STR00029## Film ##STR00030## 218 ##STR00031## SAM ##STR00032##
219 ##STR00033## Film ##STR00034##
[0141] It is understood that the examples and embodiments described
herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various
modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to
persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit
and purview of this application and scope of the appended claims.
All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are
hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all
purposes.
* * * * *