Molecular electronic device shows promise
Thanks to a team of materials scientists at Northwestern University, molecular electronics may be one step closer to reality. The researchers, led by Mark Hersam, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, have become the first to measure a unique and versatile nanoelectronic effect — called resonant tunneling — through individual molecules mounted directly on silicon.
The findings were published online Nov. 1 by Nano Letters, a publication of the American Chemical Society. The article will appear in print on the cover of the journals January 2004 issue. “This work represents the first experimental realization of a molecular resonant tunneling device on a semiconductor,” said Hersam. “The device works at room temperature and on silicon, which are important features that suggest that it can be made compatible with conventional silicon microelectronics. Its easier to make inroads if you complement current technology rather than replace it.”
Silicon microelectronics has undergone relentless miniaturization during the past 30 years leading to dramatic improvements in computational capacity and speed. At the most fundamental limit, individual molecules have been envisaged as functional electronic devices. When interfaced with conventional circuitry, resonant tunneling devices allow improved efficiency and reduced power consumption in computer architectures.
Resonant tunneling also may allow individual molecules to be detected and identified, thus creating future opportunities for high sensitivity sensors.
Media Contact
More Information:
http://www.nwu.edu/All latest news from the category: Materials Sciences
Materials management deals with the research, development, manufacturing and processing of raw and industrial materials. Key aspects here are biological and medical issues, which play an increasingly important role in this field.
innovations-report offers in-depth articles related to the development and application of materials and the structure and properties of new materials.
Newest articles
Properties of new materials for microchips
… can now be measured well. Reseachers of Delft University of Technology demonstrated measuring performance properties of ultrathin silicon membranes. Making ever smaller and more powerful chips requires new ultrathin…
Floating solar’s potential
… to support sustainable development by addressing climate, water, and energy goals holistically. A new study published this week in Nature Energy raises the potential for floating solar photovoltaics (FPV)…
Skyrmions move at record speeds
… a step towards the computing of the future. An international research team led by scientists from the CNRS1 has discovered that the magnetic nanobubbles2 known as skyrmions can be…