Molecular Electronic Devices

NU 2007-141 and NU 2008-188

Inventors

Mark Ratner*

Gemma Solomon

David Andrews

Short Description

Novel conductance characteristics of cross-conjugated molecules can be exploited for fabrication of various electronic devices #electronics #materials #electonic

Abstract

Northwestern University scientists have discovered unique electron transport properties of cross-conjugated molecules. The conductance of cross-conjugated molecules can be modulated by various mechanisms, like a chemical reaction of a side group or applied voltage, which will allow these molecules to be incorporated into a sensors, transistors etc. Importantly, the tunable conductance of cross-conjugated molecules makes them distinct from linearly conjugated and saturated ones, which exhibit either a high or a low conductance. Cross-conjugated molecules could be fashioned into thin films for device fabrication or operate as single-molecule devices. Furthermore, conductance switching is fast because it does not require a modification of the cross-conjugated molecule. Therefore, it is expected that sensors and switches based on these molecules will be vastly superior to those relying on other mechanisms.

Applications

• Transistors
• Electronic switching devices
• Rectifiers
• Sensors
• Thin films

Advantages

• Tunable conductance
• Fast switching without charging or conformational change in the molecule

Publications

Solomon GC, Andrews DQ, Goldsmith RH, Hansen T, Wasielewski MR, Van Duyne RP, Ratner MA (2008) Quantum Interference in Acyclic Systems: Conductance of Cross-Conjugated Molecules . Journal of the American Chemistry Society. 130: 17301-17308.

IP Status

Issued US patent number 8,022,394.