CHEMICAL SENSING, MOLECULAR ELECTRONICS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY - INTERFACE TECHNOLOGIES DOWN TO THE MOLECULAR SCALE

Molecular recognition in chemical sensing may be achieved by specific key-lock interactions, as they are known from both, natural biological systems and microstructured manmade devices. To handle the specific detection of molecules or ions reliably, a detailed understanding is required in both cases about the chemical compositions and electronic and/or optical properties of the materials involved, with particular emphasis on their interfaces. Of increasing interest are organic structures with potential future applications in chemical sensing or molecular- and bioelectronic devices. Recent research and development efforts focus at proper choices of prototype materials to be microfabricated, new experimental approaches, adequate theories, reliable technologies in the preparation and modification of materials; and interfaces to produce microstructured devices down to the atomic scale.