Molecular electricians now have a roll of wire in their toolbox, following
the discovery of a molecule that conducts electricity well at small scales. The
“wire”, made of an organic molecule called oligophenylenevinylene, could connect
components in molecular electronic circuits (Science, vol 291, p 1519).
Scientists at Brookhaven National Lab in New York and Stanford University in
California found that electrons “tunnel” through the material in less than 20
picoseconds over lengths of up to 3 nanometres.
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