Molecular Electronics:
The Future of Electronics

Introduction Traffic Analogy Molecular Self-Assembly Electrostatic Self-Assembly Chemical Self-Assembly Molecular Transistors How They Might Work Molecular Junctions Special Considerations Carbon Nanotubes Advantages Structure Microscopy A Closer Look Future Perspectives About the Authors References

Traffic Analogy

In order to understand molecular electronics we’ll look at something we’re all familiar with: traffic. A molecular electronic system, or any electronics system, is like the traffic system for a city. The cars that travel through this city are like electrons in the molecular electronic system. They move around the city and are directed by the roads and the traffic lights. Througout this module, you'll learn the molecular analogies for things everyone is familiar with, like intersections and hiways.

Let's take a guided tour through molecular electronics, in order to get an idea of how a device might work. Let's start by looking at Molecular Self-Assembly in order to get an idea of how these new devices are built.

© 2006 M. Busuttil, I. Kandikov, M. Lubrick, J. Mutus, J. Nantais