Electronically configurable molecular-based logic gates
Logic gates were fabricated from an array of configurable switches, each consisting of a monolayer of redox-active rotaxanes sandwiched between metal electrodes. The switches were read by monitoring current flow at reducing voltages. In the "closed" state, current flow was dominated by resonant tunneling through the electronic states of the molecules. The switches were irreversibly opened by applying an oxidizing voltage across the device. Several devices were configured together to produce AND and OR logic gates. The high and low current levels of those gates were separated by factors of 15 and 30, respectively, which is a significant enhancement over that expected for wired-logic gates.
Collier
CP
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1569, USA. Hewlett-Packard Laboratories, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1392, USA.
Wong
EW
Belohradsky
M
Raymo
FM
Stoddart
JF
Kuekes
PJ
Williams
RS
Heath
JR