Functional molecular element, process for producing the same and functional molecular device

A process for producing a functional molecular element, the functional molecular element including opposed electrodes including a plurality of electrodes disposed opposite to each other, and an adsorbate molecule formed in relation to each of said opposed electrodes, said adsorbate molecule including a π-electron conjugated molecule having a side chain moiety linked to a skeleton moiety having a substantially planar structure composed of a π-electron conjugated system, said π-electron conjugated molecule so disposed that said substantially planar structure of said skeleton moiety is substantially parallel to said opposed electrode by adsorption of said π-electron conjugated molecule on said electrode at said side chain moiety,

• a structure including at least said adsorbate molecules and said opposed electrodes having a function of permitting a current to flow in a direction intersecting said substantially planar structure according to a bias voltage impressed between said opposed electrodes,
• wherein said functional molecular element has a bias voltage region in which a negative differential resistance is exhibited at room temperature,
• the process comprising:
• repairing a solution of said π-electron conjugated molecules of which a concentration of said π-electron conjugated molecules is adjusted;
• contacting said solution with said electrode;
• evaporating a solvent from said solution so as to form layers of said π-electron conjugated molecules on a surface of said electrode, with the number of molecular layers thus stacked being in accordance with said concentration.

A process for producing a functional molecular element comprising opposed electrodes including a plurality of electrodes disposed opposite to each other, and an adsorbate molecule formed in relation to each of said opposed electrodes, said adsorbate molecule including a π-electron conjugated molecule having a side chain moiety linked to a skeleton moiety having a substantially planar structure composed of a π-electron conjugated system, said π-electron conjugated molecule so disposed that said substantially planar structure of said skeleton moiety is substantially parallel to said opposed electrode by adsorption of said π-electron conjugated molecule on said electrode at said side chain moiety,

• a structure including at least said adsorbate molecules and said opposed electrodes having a function of permitting a current to flow in a direction intersecting said substantially planar structure according to a bias voltage impressed between said opposed electrodes,
• wherein a bulk electric conductivity obtained by conversion from a current-voltage characteristic of said functional molecular element is not less than 0.1 S/cm;
• comprising:
• preparing a solution of said π-electron conjugated molecules of which the concentration of said π-electron conjugated molecules is adjusted, contacting said solution with said electrode;
• and evaporating a solvent from said solution so as to form layers of said π-electron conjugated molecules on a surface of said electrode, with the number of molecular layers thus stacked being in accordance with said concentration.

A current regulating process for regulating a current value flowing between two opposed electrodes, in an element comprising:

• said two opposed electrodes, and
• a plurality of planar molecules each having a side chain moiety linked to a skeleton moiety having a substantially planar structure,
• said planar molecules arrayed between said opposed electrodes so that the direction of an electric field impressed between said opposed electrodes and said substantially planar structure are non-parallel, and
• said element having, in its current-voltage characteristic, a region in which a negative differential resistance is exhibited,
• wherein said current value flowing between said opposed electrode is regulated by varying the intensity of a voltage impressed between said opposed electrodes.