Single Molecule Diode
June 2, 2015 | Terry Sharrer
Diodes are electrical devices that allow current to flow in only one direction. They function in all electrical equipment, but in micro and nano technologies there’s a balancing need for the smallest possible size that can conduct the greatest amount of energy. Researchers at Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science have reached a new level of performance with a single molecule diode that can conduct 0.1 microamps (a high current for a nano structure). Apparently, the single molecule is gold, and the diode is in a chamber of ionic solution. This could change the design potential of many implantable, wearable, and ingestible devices for medical monitoring. MORE