Lund University researchers created a hydrocarbon molecule with transistor-like functions. It changes from insulating to conductive when exposed to electricity, paving the way for future molecular-scale electronics.
Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have succeeded in developing a simple hydrocarbon molecule with a logic gate function, similar to that in transistors, in a single molecule. The discovery could make electric components on a molecular scale possible in the future. The results are published in Nature Communications.
Manufacturing very small components is an important challenge in both research and development. One example is transistors – the smaller they are, the faster and more energy-efficient our computers become. But is there a limit to how small logic gates can become? And is it possible to create electric machines on a molecular scale? Yes, perhaps, is the answer from a chemistry research team at Lund University.
A Molecular Switch
“We have developed a simple hydrocarbon molecule that changes its form, and at the same time goes from insulating to conductive, when exposed to electric potential. The successful formula was to design a so-called anti-aromatic ring in a molecule so that it becomes more robust and can both receive and relay electrons,” says Daniel Strand, chemistry researcher at Lund University.
Many organic molecules consist of aromatic benzene rings, ie flat rings made up of six carbon atoms. A simple example is graphene. However, such molecules do not change properties or shape if subjected to electric potential. Therefore, the research group chose to look at hydrocarbons made up of rings with eight carbon atoms. These are anti-aromatic and bent into a tub-shape. If two electrons are injected into such a molecule, it flattens and goes from insulating to conducting – a function similar to that of a transistor switching from 0 to 1.
Simple Hydrocarbon, Big Possibilities
“A unique aspect of the molecules is that they are so simple. They only consist only of carbon and hydrogen atoms which makes them easier to produce synthetically,” says Daniel Strand.
The discovery means researchers can now think about how to develop both electrical switches and new mechanical systems at the single-molecule level using anti-aromatic hydrocarbons.
“Molecules that change form in response to electric potential lead to exciting possibilities. One can imagine energy-efficient computer architectures and in the future perhaps electric machines on a molecular scale,” concludes Daniel Strand.
Reference: “Electro-mechanically switchable hydrocarbons based on [8]annulenes” by Magdalena Tasic, Jakov Ivkovic, Göran Carlström, Michaela Melcher, Paolo Bollella, Jesper Bendix, Lo Gorton, Petter Persson, Jens Uhlig and Daniel Strand, 14 February 2022, Nature Communications.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28384-8
The study was an interdisciplinary collaboration between research groups in organic, analytical, and theoretical chemistry as well as chemical physics at Lund University and the University of Copenhagen.
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2 Comments
Is there any possibility that research like this could result in much cheaper fabs
@Mt. B: Possibly, yes, although that’s at least twenty years down the line IF it takes off. There are so many different approaches being worked on currently, it’s too early to say which one(s) will prevail in the end.