Phase Coherent Electronics: A Molecular Switch Based on Quantum Interference

Abstract

Some tasks performed by solid-state electronic devices can also be carried out by single organic molecules. Why are single molecule devices important? Certainly, the most emphasized point is the reduction in size, envisioning an orders of magnitude increase in the density of electronic components. We concentrate on a different direction, no less important: we utilize the fact that electron transport in single molecules is quantum phase-coherent. We describe what can be called a phase-coherent molecular switch, with no moveable parts, based solely on the phenomenon of quantum interference. We are pursuing currently the possibilities of designing new electronic devices that exploit quantum phase coherence.

Keywords: Physical Chemistry > Theoretical Chemistry, physchem/0107004