HPCwire

Researchers at the University of Rochester and Duke University say they have made a breakthrough in atomic-scale circuitry design by employing a bi-layered molecular interface to transmit an electric charge across a one-molecule-wide circuit. The research team used a single layer of organic molecules to link the positive and negative electrodes in a molecular-junction organic light-emitting diode, while a second, inert molecular layer was added to better control the current. Atop that inert layer is the one-molecule-thin active layer, which conducts the charge while the lower layer acts as insulation and reduces interference. The current was controlled through small modifications to the organic molecules' functional groups, in which some groups were used to accelerate the charge transfer and others were used to decelerate it. To read further, please visit http://www.hpcwire.com/2014/04/23/research-holds-promise-atomic-scale-circuitry/.