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Molecular Electronics. Jason Chiesa May 3, 2006. Overview. What is Molecular Electronics? Advantages of Molecular Electronics Molecular Switch Issues. What is Molecular Electronics?. Sometimes called moletronics
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Molecular Electronics Jason Chiesa May 3, 2006
Overview • What is Molecular Electronics? • Advantages of Molecular Electronics • Molecular Switch • Issues
What is Molecular Electronics? • Sometimes called moletronics • Molecular electronics is a branch of applied physics which aims at using molecules as passive or active electronic components. • These molecules will perform the functions currently performed by semiconductors.
Why use Molecular Electronics? • Size • Power • Speed • Low Manufacturing Cost • Easier to Manufacture
Size • Molecular Electronics is a way to extend Moore’s Law past the limits of standard semiconductor Circuits. • 100X smaller than their counterparts
Power / Speed • Currently Transistors cannot be stacked, which makes them quite ineffecient! • Molecular technology will be able to add a 3rd dimension. • Femtoseconds switching times.
Manufacturing • Most designs use either spin coating or Self-Assembly process. • Individual Molecules can be made exactly the same by the Billions. • Molecular assembly tends to occur at Room Temperature.
Molecular Switch • Semiconductor switches can be made on a very small scale. • Perform computational functions when placed in the right combination. • Molecular switch is orders of magnitude smaller.
Molecular Chiropticene Switch • One molecule in size. • Switch has two distinct states • Spatial Mirror images of one another. • Electronically and Optically distinct • Distinct but Equal • Chiral property
Symmetric Amine Molecule Rapid thermal oscillation between two forms of an Amine Molecule.
Operation • In practice, the switch is triggered by light and controlled with an electric field. • Both of these actions can change the direction of the molecule’s dipole by 180 degrees.
Constructing the Switch • In order to have control of the crossed arrow dipole vector we must: • Long axis for reaction to occur • Dipole vector points along this axis • Transformation cannot occur at room temp.
Switch Properties • Stability- Two equal but opposite energy states in these molecules affords stablility as well as reversibility. • Speed- Femtosecond switching speeds
Problems facing Moletronics • Molecular electronics must still be integrated with Silicon. • Among the important issues is the determination of the resistance of a single molecule (both theoritical and experimental). • It is difficult to perform direct characterization since imaging at the molecular scale is often impossible in many experimental devices.