The group specializes in nanostructures, tiny devices that may be only several molecules thick. According to Dr. Robert Wolkow, the project leader, there is increasing interest in the development of hybrid devices that unite organic molecules, such as those manufactured in the human body, with existing microelectronics technology. It has the potential, he says, to open up astounding possibilities in areas ranging from medical diagnostics to telecommunications. We think that organic molecules, when brought to the semiconductor realm in a controlled way, will bring new function, new capability, to the whole semiconductor business. All the things an organic chemist can do will be married with the tremendous capabilities of a computer chip.
Semiconductors are the foundation of microelectronics.
They are specialized materials that can be tailored to conduct electricity to exacting specifications, and they are found in everything from computers to cars. The most commonly used semiconductor material is silicon. But the development of semiconductor technology, especially nanostructures and hybrid devices, has been hindered, he says, by our inability to see and manipulate molecules on the surface of silicon crystals. We tailor-make semiconductors by adding different materials to the surface, but until now, we haven't been able to see in detail what we've made. In the current study, Wolkow and his team applied different organic molecules to a silicon surface.