Professor Manabu Kiguchi of Tokyo Institute of Technology, Associate Professor Tomofumi Tada of the Center for Elemental Strategy Research, and Professor Makoto Fujita of the Graduate School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo have succeeded in developing an electronic device using a single molecule.Elements used in computers and smartphones have made progress by microfabrication of silicon, but performance improvement is reaching its limit.Molecular devices are attracting attention as candidates for breaking that barrier.

 Today's computer elements process information by controlling the flow of electric current using semiconductor materials.The performance improvement so far has been realized by increasing the number of elements that can be mounted in the same area by miniaturizing the element size.However, it has been pointed out that if further miniaturization is performed, the characteristics for current will change and normal operation will not be possible.The idea was that it would be good if the molecule itself had the same characteristics as a conventional device.

 Professor Fujita created a relatively large molecule by stacking plate-shaped molecules in a cage-like substance.It has been known for some time that electricity flows through computer simulations by Associate Professor Tada and experiments by Professor Kiguchi.And in this research, we succeeded in passing an electric current in only one direction by stacking molecules of different types.It will have the same characteristics as the diode, which is the most basic semiconductor element.

 In this research, we succeeded in manufacturing the most basic diode in a semiconductor device with a single molecule.However, in order to make a computer etc. based on an element made from such molecules, it is necessary to make more complicated elements such as transistors and memories with molecules.In the future, we aim to improve the performance as a diode and realize an element with more advanced functions with a single molecule.If such an element is possible, it may realize performance far surpassing that of today's computers.

Source:[Tokyo Institute of Technology] Developed a rewritable electronic device with only one molecule-one step toward the ultimate miniaturization and low power consumption electronic circuit-

Tokyo University

Established in the 10th year of the Meiji era.A university with the longest history in Japan and at the forefront of Japanese knowledge

The University of Tokyo was established in 1877 (Meiji 10) by integrating the Tokyo Kaisei School and the Tokyo Medical School.Since its establishment, it has developed education and research in a unique way in the world as a leading university in Japan and an academic center for the fusion of East and West cultures.As a result, many human resources have been produced in a wide range of fields, and many research achievements […]

Tokyo Institute of Technology

The pinnacle of science and engineering university that continues to produce science and engineering people with high aspirations and a Japanese spirit, mastering the knowledge that creates the times, refining their skills

Tokyo Institute of Technology was established as the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1881 (Meiji 14), when modernization of industry was an urgent need.Since its establishment, it has continued to produce excellent research results with excellent science and engineering human resources, and is still at the top of Japan's science and engineering universities.Tokyo Institute of Technology requires not only a high degree of specialization but also liberal arts […]

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