1. Molecular Electronics Jason Chiesa May 3, 2006

2. Overview 1. What is Molecular Electronics? 2. Advantages of Molecular Electronics 3. Molecular Switch 4. Issues

3. 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.

4. Why use Molecular Electronics? Size Power Speed Low Manufacturing Cost Easier to Manufacture

5. Size Molecular Electronics is a way to extend Moore’s Law past the limits of standard semiconductor Circuits. 100X smaller than their counterparts

6. Power / Speed Currently Transistors cannot be stacked, which makes them quite ineffecient! Molecular technology will be able to add a 3 rd dimension. Femtoseconds switching times.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. Symmetric Amine Molecule Rapid thermal oscillation between two forms of an Amine Molecule.

11. “Assymetrical Narcisstic Reactions”

12. 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.

13. Operation cont’d

14. 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.

15. Orientation of Dipole Vectors

16. Potential Energy Profile

17. Prochiral Form

18. Photo Reaction

19. Finally…….

20. Switch Properties Stability- Two equal but opposite energy states in these molecules affords stablility as well as reversibility. Speed- Femtosecond switching speeds

21. 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.

22. Questions?