Synthesis of Oligomers in Molecular Junctions

We use the Ullmann reaction to successfully synthesize individual oligomers in molecular junctions at 4 Kelvin. Our motivation is twofold: first, finding a scheme based on a very general and widespread reaction for in-situ preparation of a single polymeric chain suspended between two electrodes for the study of charge, spin, and heat transport across such quanzi-1D systems. Second, a better understanding of chemical synthesis in very peculiar conditions. We will discuss the role of low-coordination substrates, electric fields, and unusual energy resources, as friction, on the reaction and the resulted single-oligomer junctions.