The anchoring of molecular wires to the electrodes is a prerequisite for molecular electronics studies. A new and efficient approach using the cleavage of trimethylsilyl (TMS) groups to create covalent and highly conductive Au–C anchoring sites has been developed and implemented in single-molecule junction conductance measurements using the mechanically controllable break junction (MCBJ) technique.

This work was carried out by Wenjing Hong from Prof. Thomas Wandlowski’s group in close collaboration with Hui Li and Dr. Shi-Xia Liu from Prof. Silvio Decurtins’ group.

References:

• W. Hong, H. Li, S.-X. Liu*, Y. Fu, J. Li, V. Kaliginedi, S. Decurtins, T. Wandlowski*;
  "Trimethylsilyl-Terminated Oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s: An Approach to Single-Molecule Junctions with Covalent Au–C s-Bonds"
  J. Am. Chem. Soc., 134, 19425–19431, (2012); doi:10.1021/ja307544w.