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Zou's Research Group
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Zou's Research Group
Molecular Electronics| The demand for a faster and more powerful computer has driven the miniaturization of electronic devices on a semiconductor chip down to submicron region. Although technically further decrease in size is possible, the inherent physical constraints set the usable limit to about 50 nanometer (1 billionth of a meter) [1]. This limit will be reached in 10 years. Therefore there is an urgent need for new paradigms of computer architecture. Molecular electronics is a research area which proposes to use a single or a small group of molecules as electronic devices, such as diodes, transistors, and random access memories [2]. There are a variety of molecules that have been found to posses properties that are pertinent to electronic devices. However, these are organic molecules and most of them require tedious synthetic efforts [2]. | |
| In collaboration with Prof. Zhou, we are planning to use novel inorganic complexes containing two metal centers as molecular diodes and transistors. The unique molecular electronic properties come from the difference in electron affinity of the metal centers and the possibility of forming multiple metal-metal bonds between the two metal atoms. The difference of the two metal atoms in such a complex can be amplified and exploited so that one can serve as a donor and the other, an acceptor. Diode-like behavior is expected when a bias potential is applied. A salient feature of the differentiated dimetal complexes is their unprecedented tunability. From the bascicity of the bridging ligand, the type and oxidation state of each metal atom, to the donor and geometry of the axial ligands, they are all tunable. These metal complexes will be attached to a metal surface where their electrical properties will be examined. The mechanism for the electron transport will also be investigated. Compared with their organic counterparts, these dimetal complexes are easier to synthesize, their conductivities are highly tunable by varying the ligands and metal centers. |
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1. Wada, Y. “Prospects for Single-Molecule Information-Processing Devices for the Next Paradigm” in
“Molecular Electronics II” Ann. New York Acad, Sci. Vol. 960 (Eds. Aviram, A.; Ratner, M.; Mujica, V.), 2000, pp. 39-61.
