Blog: Computing in a Molecule; designing a logic gate with 30 atoms

Computing in a Molecule
ICT Results (12/19/08)

Scientists from 15 European academic and industrial research institutions are working on the European Union-funded Pico-Inside project, which was established to develop a molecular replacement for transistors. The researchers, led by Christian Joachim of the Centre for Material Elaboration & Structural Studies at the French National Scientific Research Centre, say the use of molecular-sized computer components could lead to atomic-scale computing. Joachim notes that nanotechnology focuses on shrinking parts down to the smallest size possible, while the Pico-Inside team is working from the opposite end by starting with the atom and determining if such a small bit of matter can be used to create a logic gate, memory source, or other component. "The question we have asked ourselves is how many atoms does it take to build a computer?" he says. "That is something we cannot answer at present, but we are getting a better idea about it." So far, the researchers have designed a logic gate with 30 atoms that performs the same task as 14 transistors. The researchers also have explored the architecture, technology, and chemistry needed to achieve computing at the molecular scale and to interconnect molecules. Project researchers have focused on two architectures, one that mimics the classical design of a logic gate, and another, more complex process that relies on changes to the molecule's conformation to execute logic-gate inputs and quantum mechanics to perform the computation.

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