Unimolecular organic rectifier of electrical current

US6169291A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama · US

Inventors

• Robert Metzger · Wakarusa, US
• Bo Chen · New Taipei, TW

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 2, 1998
• Grant date: Jan 2, 2001
• Expiry date: Jun 2, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S977/936

Abstract

A unimolecular electrical rectifier is prepared by forming a metal electrode on a substrate such as silicon, glass or quartz. One or more organic monolayers are formed on the electrode by Langmuir-Blodgett film transfer methods, and the resulting organic layer is dried. The organic layer is super cooled to a temperature of about -200.degree. C., to permit formation of a second electrode over the organic layer, without damaging the electrical properties of the organic layer. The two electrodes have the same composition, and the organic layer is a ground stage zwitteronic compound.