EMN04, Invited Talks

"Magnetic QCA Systems"

by Prof. Gary H. BERNSTEIN, University of Notre Dame, USA.
The field-coupled QCA architecture has emerged as a candidate for providing local interconnectivity for nanodevices, and offers the possibility to perform very dense, high speed, and low power computing in an altogether new paradigm. Magnetic interactions between nanomagnets are sufficiently strong to allow room-temperature operation. We are investigating the fabrication and testing of arrays of nanomagnets for this purpose, and have found that by tailoring their shapes, strong coupling can be observed.
This paper will present recent work of the Notre Dame group on magnetically-coupled QCA.

"Heat and Charge Transport at Interfaces and their Implications in Energy Conversion Devices"

by Prof. Arun MAJUMDAR, UC Berkeley, USA.
When materials are devices are nanostructured, interfaces can play a dominant role in their behavior. In this paper, I will review some basic concepts of electron and phonon transport acrossmetal-nonmetal and metal-molecule interfaces.
Based on this, I will discuss their implications on utilizing the science in developing high-performance solid-state energy conversion devices.

"Organic Thin Film Transistors: Towards The Single Layer Scale"

by Dr. Gilles HOROWITZ, Université Denis Diderot, Paris, France.
The fabrication of thin-film transistors with organic semiconductors is currently attracting much interest worldwide. These devices open the way to low-cost, large area, flexible electronics. Another issue is the possibility of reducing the size of the devices down to the molecular size.
In the present communication, we will review the current state of the art in the field of organic thin-film transistors. Emphasis will be made on the use of single layer molecular films, which constitute a first step towards molecular scale.

"Electronic Transport through Single Molecules"

by Prof. Hilbert von LÖHNEYSEN, University of Karlsruhe & Forschungszentrum, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Electronic transport measurements through single -conjugated molecules can be realized using mechanically controlled break junctions to couple thiol end groups of the molecules to two gold electrodes. We have investigated transport through -conjugated molecules which differ by their spatial symmetry and -conjugated connectivity. The current voltage characteristics (IVs) of the metal-molecule-metal system reflect the spatial symmetry and topology of the molecules with respect to the direction of current flow indicating that transport occurs indeed through single molecules. Fluctuations in the IVs are a manifestation of the variation of level spacings of the system, which depend crucially on the bonding between thiol end groups and Au electrodes. Controlled chemical alteration of -conjugation offers the possibility to taylor the electronic transport through single molecules.
For the future electronics, carbon nanotubes are the prime candidates. Recent progress in the controlled deposition of nanotubes between electrodes and separation of metallic and semiconducting nanotubes is reported.

"Perspectives and challenges in nanoscale device modeling"

by Prof. G. IANNACCONE, Università di Pisa, Italy.
The development of nanoelectronic devices, including both latest generation MOSFETs and alternative nanodevices, can benefit significantly from adequate modeling tools, enabling researchers to optimize device structures and evalutate their performances.
Recent results and perspectives in nanodevice modeling are presented.