Whence Molecular Electronics?

TLDR

Molecular electronics devices promise significant advances in electronics, yet their practical performance remains uncertain. The authors identify molecular rectifiers and switch tunnel junctions as devices that have survived scientific scrutiny, demonstrating genuine molecular effects. They anticipate that future practical devices will likely be hybrids combining molecular components with conventional electronics. Flood et al.

Abstract

Molecular electronics devices hold great promise for electronics applications. But how have the devices fared so far? In their Perspective, Flood et al ., review recent advances in this field. They conclude that several types of molecular electronics devices, such as molecular rectifiers and molecular switch tunnel junctions, have withstood scientific scrutiny: In these devices, the observed effects are indeed molecular in origin. Future practical devices will most likely consist of hybrid devices that combine molecular with existing electronics.