Molecular Light Switch
June 16, 2015 | Terry Sharrer
The smallest possible electrical switch would be no more than a single molecule which could change its shape to open or close a circuit. German researchers haven’t quite produced such a switch which could repeatedly turn off and on, but they have made strides in that direction. They have found that the photochromic molecule diarylethene can act as a switch when stimulated by UV light. Gold nanowires provide the circuitry. While this piece only mentions nanobots as a possible application, implantable devices for human medicine is a likely application. MORE
Image Credit: University of Konstanz and GizMag.com