Molecular electronics: new prospects for information technology

Future technologies in information science will rely on structures with decreasing size and on systems with increasing complexity. The physical and technological limits of semiconductor nanostructures point to the use of molecules and atoms in information science. In particular, organic molecules are very attractive because they can be engineered with very large complexity, and their electronic and optical properties can be controlled technologically. Today many fundamental functions and devices relevant to information technology can be realized with systems of organic molecules: Switchable molecules lead to the development of memories with large capacity. Transmission of information is possible through “molecular wires” and the flow of information can be interrupted by “switching molecules”. Together with other logical elements this opens the possibility to develop future systems in information technology. However, this requires suitable supramolecular arrangements for complex interconnections of logical elements and memory molecules, as well as a suitable electrical or optical periphery