Chemists synthesize molecular diode

from the bigger-molecules-mean-smaller-transistors dept.
Gina Miller writes "From a University of Chicago press release: Chemists synthesize key component in the drive toward molecular electronic devices. 'The component, called a molecular diode, restricts current flow to one direction between electronic devices. In the semiconductor industry these components, called p-n junctions, form half of a transistor.'" "The molecular diode (pictures) is based upon a diblock copolymer and measures 2.5 nanometers in diameter. These diodes 'are embedded in a monolayer, a sheet measuring only one molecule thick. The sheets are then transferred to a gold platform, where a scanning tunneling microscope measures the properties of the diodes.' The chemists are confident that they 'can now synthesize a molecular transistor, but a more difficult hurdle remains: how to connect molecular components to make a working computer.'"