Abstract
The thesis based on the observation that copper ion reacts with pyrazine to form crystals of infinite one-dimensional alternating complex. Growth of such complexes on a functional surface or nano-scale channels to give nanometer scale, isolated complex wires is studied for the potential application in molecular electronic device fabrication. The first part involves the preparation of patterned monolayer surface of 8-(4-pyridyl)octanethiol/octanethiol. Immersion of the patterned surface into mixture of copper ion and pyrazine led to formation of complex specifically on pyridine-containing areas. Mixed monolayers of 8-(4-pyridyl)octanethiol and octanethiol were then prepared for the selective growth of complex crystals on isolated pyridine sites in order to obtain isolated wires. The second part involves nanometer scale channels of anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) as the template for formation of complex crystals. Through a two phase approach, copper ions and pyrazine molecules were allowed to diffuse, mix and react in the channels of AAO to form nano wires of complexes. Also, the pyrazine was replaced by nanometer gold particles covered with 8-(4-pyridyl)octanethiol so that reaction with copper in the channels of AAO gave strings of gold nano particles.