This research will apply molecular template techniques in concert with probe microscopy to the chemical synthesis and ordering of oligomeric and polymeric materials for electronic and photonic applications. There are three distinct tasks within the research. First is the study of synthetic reactions initiated by a confined electric discharge between a probe tip and substrate. Second is the development of procedures for orienting a single conducting oligomer between sharp probe tips by chemical insertion and binding. Third is the investigation of single-layer ledges on highly-ordered pyrolytic graphite as chemical templates of opportunity for the growth of highly ordered one-dimensional polymers.
