this invention provides a new procedure for attaching molecules to semiconductor surfaces , in particular silicon . the molecules , which include , but are not limited to porphyrins and ferrocenes , have been previously shown to be attractive candidates for molecular - based information storage . the new attachment procedure is simple , can be completed in short times , requires minimal amounts of material , is compatible with diverse molecular functional groups , and in some instances affords unprecedented attachment motifs . these features greatly enhance the integration of the molecular materials into the processing steps that are needed to create hybrid molecular / semiconductor information storage devices .