molecular rotors as switches分子转子的开关.pdfVIP

Sensors 2012, 12, 11612-11637; doi:10.3390/s120911612 OPEN ACCESS sensors ISSN 1424-8220 /journal/sensors Review Molecular Rotors as Switches Mei Xue and Kang L. Wang Device Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; E-Mails: mxue@ (M.X.); wang@ (K.L.W.) Received: 5 July 2012; in revised form: 9 August 2012 / Accepted: 14 August 2012 / Published: 27 August 2012 Abstract: The use of a functional molecular unit acting as a state variable provides an attractive alternative for the next generations of nanoscale electronics. It may help overcome the limits of conventional MOSFETd due to their potential scalability, low-cost, low variability, and highly integratable characteristics as well as the capability to exploit bottom-up self-assembly processes. This bottom-up construction and the operation of nanoscale machines/devices, in which the molecular motion can be controlled to perform functions, have been studied for their functionalities. Being triggered by external stimuli such as light, electricity or chemical reagents, these devices have shown various functions including those of diodes, rectifiers, memories, resonant tunnel junctions and single settable molecular switches that can be electronically configured for logic gates. Molecule-specific electronic switching has also been reported for several of these device structures, including nanop