Premium
Front Cover: Atomic‐ and molecular‐scale devices and systems for single‐molecule electronics (Phys. Status Solidi A 4/2012)
Author(s) -
PrauznerBechcicki Jakub S.,
Godlewski Szymon,
Szymonski Marek
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
physica status solidi (a)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1862-6319
pISSN - 1862-6300
DOI - 10.1002/pssa.201290006
Subject(s) - nanotechnology , electronics , molecular electronics , substrate (aquarium) , cover (algebra) , scale (ratio) , computer science , task (project management) , molecule , point (geometry) , materials science , electrical engineering , engineering , chemistry , physics , mechanical engineering , systems engineering , geometry , organic chemistry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , geology , oceanography
The request for ongoing development of electronic devices stimulates alternative technology research. In this regard, a very promising candidate is the concept of single‐molecule electronics based on the state‐of‐the‐art use of modern nanotechnology. On the front cover, the concept of a single‐molecule electronic device is envisaged. The molecule is designed to perform a given logic task, and is thus equipped with various functional groups responsible for task implementation. Furthermore, it possesses anchoring groups that bind the molecular processor to an underlying surface and metallic nanoelectrodes without severe distortion of its internal structure, i.e. with no alteration to its operation. Below the processor there is an ultrathin buffer layer that decouples it from a (semi‐)conducting substrate. The scanning tip is used either for characterisation of the device or for initiating/controlling its operation. The Feature Article by Prauzner‐Bechcicki et al. (pp. 603–613 ) presents a review of recent experiments proving significant progress in single‐molecule computing device technology. This survey of latest achievements in atomic‐ and molecular‐scale technologies is a starting point for discussing future perspectives, challenges, and unsolved issues faced on the way to a working single‐molecule device prototype.