Objective
We will establish a European collaboration to develop manufacturing techniques and theoretical models for nano-scale molecular electronic devices. The objective is to produce molecular electronics with critical dimension less than 10 nm, which can operate at room temperature. A family of functional conducting molecules with reactive end groups will be synthesised, characterised and modelled, and used for making self-assembled three terminal devices in a parallel process. The process will be a combination of chemical synthesis for definition of the critical parts of the devices and conventional lithographic techniques to define leads and connections to other electronic circuits. A demonstration of such a device will put Europe on the leading edge of reset for future electronic manufacturing. Models for new integrated devices for information processing will be developed, that fully takes advantage of the size of molecular electronics. We will establish a European collaboration to develop manufacturing techniques and theoretical models for nano-scale molecular electronic devices. The objective is to produce molecular electronics with critical dimension less than 10 nm, which can operate at room temperature. A family of functional conducting molecules with reactive end groups will be synthesised, characterised and modelled, and used for making self-assembled three terminal devices in a parallel process. The process will be a combination of chemical synthesis for definition of the critical parts of the devices and conventional lithographic techniques to define leads and connections to other electronic circuits. A demonstration of such a device will put Europe on the leading edge of reset for future electronic manufacturing. Models for new integrated devices for information processing will be developed, that fully takes advantage of the size of molecular electronics.
OBJECTIVES
Development of tools and techniques for the fabrication of electronic devices with critical dimensions below 5 nm and integration of such structures to form logic elements and memory cells. The first phase of the project will emphasise on fundamental investigations. Design and synthesis of a number of tailor-made conducting molecules, using concepts and techniques originating from organic chemistry and supramolecular engineering, combined with surface patterning and nano-manipulation techniques. Chemically synthesised metallic clusters and conjugated molecules will be used to make self-assembled three terminal devices. The second phase will address issues like the interconnect problem and focus on making useful devices with respect to lifetime and reproducibility. New architectures for information processing will be considered, which can be used for implementation of logic devices at the end of the project period.
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
The project will be divided in two phases where the first phase emphasise on technology development and fundamental understanding of self-assembly and electron transport in molecular-scale systems. The second phase will focus on making small-scale integration and demonstrate devices for information processing, such as logic gates and memory cells. The partners of this collaboration has the competence and skills of synthetic chemistry, lithographic process technology, theory, manipulation of nano-scale objects, measurement techniques and different methods for analysis, which together will have a very strong synergetic effect and assure a successful development of the project.
We have identified three directions for the first phase:
1. Definition and realisation of a family of suitable conjugated molecules and investigation of their self-assembling properties;
2. Electrical transport measurements of these molecules;
3. Investigation of self-assembly of nanoclusters, with molecular bridging between the clusters.
The strategy will be an iterative process to design, synthesise, characterise and make semi-empirical models that can be used for the design of new molecules with improved performance. The second phase will aim at the development of new architectures built on three terminal devices and the development of more complex molecules, in particular bearing more than two connecting sites, using the verified theoretical models and the same strategy as in phase one. To reach the objectives, the work will be divided in seven workpackages that are interrelated: Synthesis of molecules; synthesis of clusters; Self-assembly of molecules; Self-assembly of clusters; Transport measurement; Electrode fabrication; and Theory.
Fields of science
Keywords
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
412 96 GOETEBORG
Sweden