The world's smallest diode is born, inspired by the DNA double helix
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- Date : 2022-08-17
Researchers at the University of Georgia (USA) and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Israel have developed what is claimed to be the world's smallest diode using DNA molecules, with the actual size of a single molecule.
The study, "Molecular rectifiers composed of DNA embedded for high rectification ratios," published in the latest issue of Nature Chemistry, details how a multinational team of Israeli and U.S. researchers exploited the predictability, diversity and programmability of DNA to design the first diode. The article details how a multinational team of Israeli and American researchers used the predictability, diversity and programmability of DNA to design the first single-molecule electronic components.
The researchers constructed a DNA molecular rectifier by embedding small molecules (coralyne) at specific locations in a custom 11-pair double helix of DNA.
World's smallest diode inspired by DNA double helix_ESMCOL_1
According to the current-voltage curve of the DNA-coralyne molecular linkage, it unexpectedly exhibits a massive rectification effect with a rectification rate of about 15 at 1.1V, which is different from the apparently symmetrical molecular structure that is intuitively believed.
Using a model based on nonequilibrium Green's functions and density generalized theory to calculate parameters, the researchers found that the spatial asymmetry induced by the distribution of electronic states in coralyne led to the observed rectification effect.
"The creation and characterization of the world's smallest diode can be considered an important milestone in the development of molecular electronics," said Yoni Dubi, a professor in the BGU Department of Chemistry and a researcher at the Ilse Katz Center for Nanotechnology, "and it gives us a step toward electron transport mechanism to a new horizon."
The resulting nanoscale diodes are able to operate like valves to facilitate the flow of electrons in a single direction. These nanoscale diodes, or combinations of molecules, have properties similar to those of traditional electronic components such as wires, transistors or diodes.
The researchers are also bullish on the potential for such molecular electronics to be a pathway to break Moore's Law beyond the limits of traditional silicon-based semiconductors.
The study, "Molecular rectifiers composed of DNA embedded for high rectification ratios," published in the latest issue of Nature Chemistry, details how a multinational team of Israeli and U.S. researchers exploited the predictability, diversity and programmability of DNA to design the first diode. The article details how a multinational team of Israeli and American researchers used the predictability, diversity and programmability of DNA to design the first single-molecule electronic components.
The researchers constructed a DNA molecular rectifier by embedding small molecules (coralyne) at specific locations in a custom 11-pair double helix of DNA.
World's smallest diode inspired by DNA double helix_ESMCOL_1
According to the current-voltage curve of the DNA-coralyne molecular linkage, it unexpectedly exhibits a massive rectification effect with a rectification rate of about 15 at 1.1V, which is different from the apparently symmetrical molecular structure that is intuitively believed.
Using a model based on nonequilibrium Green's functions and density generalized theory to calculate parameters, the researchers found that the spatial asymmetry induced by the distribution of electronic states in coralyne led to the observed rectification effect.
"The creation and characterization of the world's smallest diode can be considered an important milestone in the development of molecular electronics," said Yoni Dubi, a professor in the BGU Department of Chemistry and a researcher at the Ilse Katz Center for Nanotechnology, "and it gives us a step toward electron transport mechanism to a new horizon."
The resulting nanoscale diodes are able to operate like valves to facilitate the flow of electrons in a single direction. These nanoscale diodes, or combinations of molecules, have properties similar to those of traditional electronic components such as wires, transistors or diodes.
The researchers are also bullish on the potential for such molecular electronics to be a pathway to break Moore's Law beyond the limits of traditional silicon-based semiconductors.
