Molecular Electronics: From Physics to Computing

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of molecular nanostructures to extend beyond CMOS technology, discussing their opportunities, challenges, and the fundamental knowledge gaps for developing molecule-enabled computing.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the potentials, challenges, and fundamental knowledge gaps in molecular electronics for future computing technologies.

Findings

Molecular nanostructures could extend charge-based device technology beyond CMOS limits.

Significant knowledge gaps hinder the practical implementation of molecular electronics.

Molecular electronics may play a key role in post-CMOS computing architectures.

Abstract

Even if Moore's Law continues to hold, it will take about 250 years to fill the performance gap between present-day computer and the ultimate computer determined from the laws of physics alone. Information processing technology in the post-CMOS era will likely consist of a heterogeneous set of novel device technologies that span a broad range of materials, operational principles, data representations, logic systems and architectures. Molecular nanostructures promise to occupy a prominent role in any attempt to extend charge-based device technology beyond the projected limits of CMOS scaling. We discuss the potentials and challenges of molecular electronics and identify the fundamental knowledge gap that needs to be addressed for a successful introduction of molecule-enabled computing technology