Project to create a molecule-sized processor

November 23, 2010

Singapore and European research organizations are working together to build what is essentially a single-molecule processor chip. As a comparison, a thousand of such molecular chips could fit into one of today’s microchips.

The ambitious project, termed Atomic Scale and Single Molecule Logic Gate Technologies (ATMOL), will establish a new process for making a complete molecular chip. This means that computing power can be increased significantly but take up only a small fraction of the space that is required by today’s standards.

The fabrication process involves the use of three unique ultra high vacuum (UHV) atomic scale interconnection machines which build the chip atom-by-atom. These machines physically move atoms into place one at a time at cryogenic temperatures.

Adapted from materials provided by Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE)