Patent ID: 8482000

Claim:
A molecular element comprising: a functional molecule in which a side chain composed of a pendant molecule that has dielectric constant anisotropy and/or a dipole moment and in which orientation change occurs due to an electric field is covalently linked to a main chain composed of a conjugated molecule in which structural change occurs due to the orientation change of the pendant molecule and an electrical characteristic changes; a source electrode and a drain electrode each having a corner part that are separated by a gap therebetween, the corner parts of the source electrode and the drain electrode being connected to one end and the other end, respectively, of the main chain of the functional molecule which is positioned in the gap; and a gate electrode for applying an electric field for control to the pendant molecule; wherein the molecular element is configured to function as a diode, a transistor, or a memory by an electric field applied to the pendent molecule.