| abstract |
A molecular system (30) is provided for electric field activated switches, such as a crossed-wire device (10) or a pair of electrodes (12, 14) to which the molecular system (30) is linked by linking moieties. The cross-wire device (10) comprises a pair of crossed wires (12, 14) that form a junction (18) where one wire (14) crosses another (12) at an angle other than zero degrees and at least one connector species (16) connecting the pair of crossed wires (12, 14) in the junction (18). The connector species (16) comprises the molecular system (30), which has an electric field induced band gap change, and thus a change in it's electrical conductivity, that occurs via one a molecular conformation change, based on a rotor/stator construction of the molecular system (30), involving a rotating portion (rotor) (32) connected between the stationary portions (stators) (34). Nanometer-scale reversable electronic switches (10) are thus provided that can be assembled easily to make cross-bar circuits (60), which provide memory, logic, and communication functions. |