Using CAD to Shape Experiments in Molecular QCA

This paper examines how circuits and systems made from molecular QCA devices might function. Our design constraints are "chemically reasonable" in that we consider the characteristics and dimensions of devices and scaffoldings (circuit boards to attach devices to) that have actually been fabricated (currently in isolation). We show that not only is the work presented here a necessary first step for any work in QCA CAD, but also that by considering issues related to design can actually help shape experiments in the physical sciences for emerging, nano-scale devices. Our work shows that circuits, scaffoldings, substrates, and devices must all be considered simultaneously. Otherwise, there is a very real possibility that the devices and scaffoldings that are eventually manufactured results in devices that only work in isolation. This work is especially timely as experimentalists are currently working to merge the different experimental tracks - i.e. to selectively place a QCA device