Nonvolatile Memory and Programmable Logic from Molecule-Gated Nanowires

Bistable nanoscale switches have been assembled using nanowires and redox active molecules as building blocks. The nanodevices consist of nanowire field-effect transistors (NW-FET) functionalized with redox active molecules, where the redox species can store charges and thereby maintain the NW-FETs in either a logic on or off state with high or low channel conductance, respectively. Single NW and crossed NW-FET devices have been assembled and shown to switch reversibly as two- and three-terminal devices. Individual NW devices with on/off ratios exceeding 10⁴ and retention times in excess of 20 min, and integrated arrays in which devices are independently addressable, have been assembled. The characteristics of the molecule-gated NW-FET devices suggest that they could serve as key elements in a range of nanoelectronics applications, including nonvolatile memory and programmable logic array.