Ferrocene-cored-conjugated dendrimer with electrical bistability

In this study, we report synthesis of a ferrocene-cored-conjugated dendrimer and its electrical property. The ferrocene-cored-conjugated dendrimer is covalently linked by a redox active ferrocene moiety and π-conjugated dendrons. Photophysical properties showed a remarkable fluorescence quenching of the dendrimers possibly due to electron transfer from the ferrocene moiety to the half-occupied HOMO level of the conjugated dendrons. The I–V–R (current–voltage–resistance) characteristics of the single layer device, ITO/dendrimer/LiF/Al, exhibited clear electrical bistability for organic memory application, i.e. the low-conductivity state (OFF state) and the high-conductivity state (ON state). The result would provide a new class of materials with further opportunities for organic electronics.