A chip production method combines molecular materials with semiconductor manufacturing to build molecular memory and computing devices.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new way to add molecular materials to electronic chips without damaging them during manufacturing. The method works with standard semiconductor production and could support future computing, sensing, optical, and quantum devices.
The team showed that the process can produce more than 1,000 working molecular devices on a chip using molecular layers smaller than one nanometer. Around 96% of the fabricated devices worked successfully and continued operating after tens of thousands of electrical cycles. The findings were published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
Molecules are considered useful materials for future electronics because their properties can be designed for different functions. However, they are easily damaged by the heat, chemicals, and processing steps used in conventional chip manufacturing.
To solve this problem, the MIT researchers separated the manufacturing process into two stages. First, they built the main parts of the device using standard semiconductor fabrication. The molecular material was added only after these steps were complete, reducing the risk of damage.
For their demonstration, the team created two metal electrodes with a gap between them. A molecular layer was placed on the electrode surfaces.
As the liquid carrying the molecules dried, capillary forces pulled the top electrode into place over the molecular layer. Another force, known as the van der Waals force, kept the electrodes together without harming the molecules. This formed electrical connections without using harsh manufacturing steps.
The researchers designed the electrodes so these nanoscale forces could move and lock the device into its final structure automatically. This self-assembly approach made it possible to build structures that are difficult to produce using standard fabrication methods alone.
The team also built an array of molecular memory devices, showing that the technique can be used for larger circuits instead of only individual devices. This could support future memory and computing systems based on molecular materials.
According to the researchers, the method is not limited to molecules and could also be used with other nanoscale materials. They plan to use the platform to develop new computing, sensing, and electronic devices that combine these materials with conventional semiconductor manufacturing.
