Molecular transistor developed
June 2, 2005 | Source: KurzweilAI
University of Alberta scientists have designed and tested a new concept for a single molecule transistor.
They have shown, for the first time, that a single charged atom on a silicon surface can regulate the conductivity of a nearby molecule at room temperature, while all surrounding atoms remain neutral.
A molecule placed adjacent to that charged site is “tuned,” which allows electrical current to flow through the molecule from one electrode to another. The current flowing through the molecule can be switched on and off by changing the charge state of the adjacent atom.
On a conventional transistor, this gating action requires about one million electrons.