www.nanopicoftheday.org
December 9, 2003
Source: A. J. Heinrich, C. P. Lutz, J. A. Gupta, D. M. Eigler
IBM Research Division
References:
Description:
Carbon monoxide molecules were arranged in atomically precise configurations, which are called “molecule cascades,” where the motion of one molecule causes the subsequent motion of another, and so on in a cascade of motion similar to a row of toppling dominoes. This research presents a cascade-based computation scheme that has all of the devices and interconnects required for the one-time computation of an arbitrary logic function. Logic gates and other devices were implemented by engineered arrangements of molecules at the intersections of cascades.
Pictured above is a logic AND gate. Both input cascades (left) have to be triggered to set up a chevron in the center, which then triggers the output cascade. The images are a sequence of STM images (5.1 nm by 3.4 nm) showing the operation of the AND gate. (B) Initial configuration. (C) Result after input X was triggered manually by moving the top left CO molecule with the STM tip. (D) When input Y was triggered, the cascade propagated all the way to the output.
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