Molecular Computing

Research efforts directed toward constructing a molecular computer are ongoing in the group of James Tour. These involve areas starting with the synthesis of the basic building blocks such as molecular wires and molecular alligator clips, and ranging to the assembly and programming of the entire molecular-based CPUs. Of particular importance to their efforts within the Rice Quantum Institute are their programming methodologies for nanocells. Each nanocell, the proposed molecular computer's most fundamental unit, is further comprised of self-assembled molecular/nanoparticle components (moleware) possessing a highly interconnected 2D network of teachable, fault tolerant logic and memory. Each nanocell is ~1 mm² possessing multiple input/output address pads that can be contacted by lithographic wiring. A series of functional, electrically set-able, molecular switches are self-assembled within the nanocell. A programming scheme is used to set the switches and thereby create a hard-wired program in the nanocell that can also be reconfigured "on the fly." Chips containing nanocell tiles will then comprise the molecular computer that will be further programmed using hierarchical methods.

Nanocell tile used in programming simulations