NIRT -- Hierarchical Assembly of Interconnects for Molecular Electronics

本研究将解决未来先进分子信息处理材料中的两个关键问题：1)如何将单分子组装并附着在电子触点上；2)如何在分子水平上创造电子增益（晶体管的基本工作原理）。然而，要做到这一点，该项目将解决三个主要的未解决的挑战：(1)合成具有功能的新分子，使其能够充当非线性电子元件并化学附着在硅基接触结构上；(2)桥接分子（通过自下而上制造）与光刻（通过自上而下制造）长度尺度用于设备结构；(3)定义新的光刻方法，以适应加工过程中的分子安装。我们提出的方法解决了这些问题，此外还设计了分子水平上增益的重要概念，作为分子结构内状态变化的结果，而不是作为分子对底层（宏观）栅极偏置变化的响应。分子电子学领域的进步也从根本上改变了下一代技术人才的教育方式。在这项工作中，我们提出了几项活动。研究生将攻读涉及传统科学、工程和技术开发方面的博士学位，并强调最先进的研究方法。此外，我们描述了现有的跨学科课程的扩展，这些课程适合于发展对纳米技术领域的批判性理解，并为妇女和少数民族提供了一个外展计划，以扩大参与这一新的跨学科范式的多样性。将电子设备小型化到分子尺度是电子学革命的下一个重要步骤。这个项目的结果将有助于确保更好的信息处理技术的可用性，使我们的经济在更小、更快、更轻的电子产品中增长得更强。虽然这类研究最终将由企业研发来完成，但在这些实体承担此类研究的风险之前，必须解决一些基本的、未解决的问题。这些问题，如果用联邦基金给大学解决，将使电子发展的下一阶段成为可能，特别是在美国。分子电子学领域的进步也从根本上改变了下一代技术人才的教育方式。在这项工作中，我们提出了几项活动。研究生将攻读涉及传统科学、工程和技术开发方面的博士学位，并强调最先进的研究方法。此外，我们描述了现有的跨学科课程的扩展，这些课程适合于发展对纳米技术领域的批判性理解，并为妇女和少数民族提供了一个外展计划，以扩大参与这一新的跨学科范式的多样性。

This research will tackle two critical issues in future materials for advanced molecule-based information processing: 1) how to assemble and attach single molecules to electronic contacts; and 2) how to create electronic gain (the fundamental operating principle of a transistor) at the molecular level. To do this, however, this project will address three major unsolved challenges: (1) Synthesis of new molecules with functionality that allows them to act as nonlinear electronic elements and to chemically attach to silicon-based contact structures (2) Bridging the molecular (created via bottom-up fabrication) with the lithographic (created via top-down fabrication) length scales for device construction and (3) definition of new lithographic approaches that accommodate molecular installation during processing. The approach we propose addresses these issues and, in addition is designed to demonstrate the important concept of Gain at the molecular level as the result of a state change within the molecular architecture rather than as the response of a molecule to a change in bias of an underlying (macroscopic) gate electrode.The advancement of the field of molecular electronics also is fundamentally changing how the next generation of technically saavy students is educated. Under this work, we propose several activities. Graduate students will do Ph. D. degrees that involve both traditional science, engineering and technology development aspects and emphasize state-of-the-art research approaches. In addition, we describe the expansion of existing, interdisciplinary courses suited to developing critical understanding of the field of nanotechnology and an outreach program for women and minorities to expand the diversity of participation in this new, interdisciplinary paradigm.%%%Miniaturizing electronic devices to the molecular scale is the next major step in the electronics revolution. The results of this project will help ensure that better techniques for information processing will be available to keep our economy growing stronger with smaller, faster, lighter electronics. While this type of research will ultimately be performed by corporate research and development, today there are fundamental, unsolved issues that must be addressed before such entities can assume the risk of such research. These issues, if addressed using federal funds to universities will make possible the next phase of electronics development, particularly in the United States. The advancement of the field of molecular electronics also is fundamentally changing how the next generation of technically saavy students is educated. Under this work, we propose several activities. Graduate students will do Ph. D. degrees that involve both traditional science, engineering and technology development aspects and emphasize state-of-the-art research approaches. In addition, we describe the expansion of existing, interdisciplinary courses suited to developing critical understanding of the field of nanotechnology and an outreach program for women and minorities to expand the diversity of participation in this new, interdisciplinary paradigm.