Single Molecule Can Make Electronic Switches!

The scientists at Home | University of Pittsburgh have discovered an electronic switch comprised of only four atoms. The molecule so discovered is a Nitrogen atom which bonds together three metal atoms. The triangular shaped molecule can be toggled in a particular way to vary between all six positions exhibiting electronic gates. The discovery is so important that it can change the face 0f electronics industry in future.

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A new switch that protects molecules so they can function without influence from outside chemicals is expected to mean smaller, more efficient electronics. | Image Credit: Jiri Vratislavsk / Shutterstock

Speaking of the structure so discovered, scientists have fashioned a molecule encapsulated in a nearly sphere the edges at the imperfections containing carbon atoms. Whenever the molecule is subjected to different electrical conditions, the plane in which the molecule is kept changes to be accustomed to the new situation. This has made us possible to construct all Logic gates including AND, NAND, OR, NOR, Ex-OR and NOT. The structure particularly obeys the electronic conditions showing almost negligible error. Moreover this is achieved without changing the shape of the hollow carbon sphere.

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Image Credit: University of Pittsburgh

The team researching on this subject at University of Pittsburgh is led by Hrvoje Petek, professor of physics and chemistry. The experiment was conducted using Sc3N@C80 molecule- the prototype been demonstrated using two electrodes; one was an atomically flat Copper Oxide substrate while the other a sharp Tungsten electrode tip. The results of this are published in the November 14 online issue of journal #-Link-Snipped-#. The concept being far more stable and repeatable presents before us a revolutionary idea of integrating Logic gates with molecules of size 100,000 times smaller than diameter of Human hair.

The research was conducted in collaboration with chemists at the Leibnitz Institute for Solid State Research in Dresden, Germany, and theoreticians at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, People's Republic of China. It was supported by $1 million grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation.