Project description
Molecular electronics are hop, hop, hopping along
When you want to go across a busy road loaded with cars, one easy way to do it is to go through an underground tunnel. Quantum tunnelling is a quantum representation of the same concept for electrons. Organic molecular-scale electronics have increasingly used single-step tunnelling. Quantum tunnelling occurs due to the quantum wave nature of electrons and the fact that, when the electron wave hits the barrier, it does not stop abruptly; instead, it tapers off, with the probability that some of those electrons will end up on the other side. The potential of multi-step tunnelling or electron 'hopping' such as that in photosynthesis has not been harnessed. The EU-funded HOPELEC project is studying hopping processes in molecular-scale electronics with the goal of elucidating novel molecular-scale device mechanisms and enhancing our knowledge of biology and materials science.
Objective
With feature sizes of integrated circuits rapidly approaching molecular length scales, historical motivations to pursue the use of individual molecules in electronic circuits can no longer be justified based on their size alone. Instead, the focus has shifted towards the identification and exploitation of unusual transport phenomena unique to molecular materials (dominated by quantum mechanics) which can complement or supplant current silicon-based technologies. With the large majority of previous studies centered around the study of organic, redox-inactive molecules - typically transporting charge via single-step tunnelling processes - investigations of analogous systems that explicitly involve multi-step tunnelling, or ‘hopping’, behaviour are comparatively rare. In this project I propose to systematically study hopping processes in molecular-scale electronics (HOPELEC), with two primary objectives: (i) to construct the first single-molecule current oscillator; and (ii) probe under-explored current rectification mechanisms for single-molecule diodes. This highly interdisciplinary research area will involve the synthesis of new multi-site redox-active metal complexes capable of binding between nanoscale electrodes. Transport through these systems will be studied both at the single-molecule level using the scanning tunnelling microscope-based break junction technique, and in large area measurements using the eutectic Ga−In method. This work will expose new molecular-scale device mechanisms at the intersection of Marcus and Landauer theories, and contribute to our understanding of related processes in biology and materials science. Project results will be actively promoted through Outreach workshops on electronics/computation (translated also to YouTube). The extensive training, enhanced international profile, networks, and new experiences provided by this Fellowship will function as a 'springboard' in propelling me from Ph.D. student to independent research scholar.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
9712CP Groningen
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.