Molecule-based microelectronic devices

• US 4,895,705 A
• Filed: 05/13/1987
• Issued: 01/23/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Wrighton, Mark S., Kittlesen, Gregg P., White, Henry S. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcus, Michael S.
• Application Number:
  US07/049,341
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 422/68, 422/69, 422/90, 422/94-98, 430/62, 436/806, 436/151, 324/71.5, 324/438, 324/60 R, 324/61, 204/78, 204/433, 204/435, 204/290 F, 204/291, 350/357
• US Class Current: 429/306
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/129 Diode type sensors, e.g. gas sensitive Schottky diodes capacitor type sensors G01N27/227; field-effect transistor type sensors G01N27/414
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/414 Ion-sensitive or chemical field-effect transistors, i.e. ISFETS or CHEMFETS
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/48 using polarography, i.e. measuring changes in current under a slowly-varying voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1533 structural features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0009 RRAM elements whose operation depends upon chemical change
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0014 comprising cells based on organic memory material
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 13/0016 comprising polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 7/00 Capacitors in which the capacitance is varied by non-mechanical means; Processes of their manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/26 Diodes comprising organic-organic junctions
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/46 Field-effect transistors, e.g. organic thin-film transistors [OTFT] H10K10/43 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/701 Organic molecular electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 71/125 using electrolytic deposition e.g. in-situ electropolymerisation
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/111 comprising aromatic, heteroaromatic, or aryl chains, e.g. polyaniline, polyphenylene or polyphenylene vinylene
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/30 Coordination compounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/806 Electrical property or magnetic property

Abstract

Several types of new microelectronic devices including diodes, transistors, sensors, surface energy storage elements, and light-emitting devices are disclosed. The properties of these devices can be controlled by molecular-level changes in electroactive polymer components. These polymer components are formed from electrochemically polymerizable material whose physical properties change in response to chemical changes, and can be used to being about an electrical connection between two or more closely spaced microelectrodes. Examples of such materials include polypyrrole, polyaniline, and polythiophene, which respond to changes in redox potential. Each electrode can be individually addressed and characterized electrochemically by controlling the amount and chemical composition of the functionalizing polymer. Sensitivity of the devices may be increased by decreasing separations between electrodes as well as altering the chemical environment of the electrode-confined polymer. These very small, specific, sensitive devices provide means for interfacing electrical and chemical systems while consuming very little power.

Claims

1. A device comprising two closely spaced electrically conductive electrodes on an insulating substrate wherein the first electrode is overlaid with a first redox polymer and the second electrode is overlaid with a second redox polymer, wherein the redox potential of said second polymer is different from the redox potential of the first redox polymer.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first redox polymer and said second redox polymer are electrically connected by a third polymer, said third polymer reversibly responding to a chemical signal.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said first polymer and said second polymer are not electrically connected.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said first polymer is reduced and said second polymer is oxidized.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said device is electrically charged to reduce the first polymer and oxidize the second polymer and wherein said device is useful as an energy storage device.