Information Processing with Molecules-Quo Vadis?
Review article, 2013
Information processing at the molecular level is coming of age. Since the first molecular AND gate was proposed about 20 years ago, the molecular interpretation of binary logic has become vastly more sophisticated and complex. However, the field is also at a crossroads. While cleverly designed molecular building blocks are abundant, difficult questions remain. How can molecular components be flexibly assembled into larger circuits, and how can these components communicate with one another. The concept of all-photonic switching with photochromic supermolecules has shown some interesting potential and is discussed in this review. Although the field of molecular logic was originally discussed mainly in terms of a technology that might compete with solid-state computers, potential applications have expanded to include clever molecular systems and materials for drug delivery, sensing, probing, encoding, and diagnostics. These upcoming trends, which are herein illustrated by selected examples, deserve general attention.
fluorescence
encoder-decoder
materials science
keypad lock
flip-flop
reversible logic
silica nanoparticles
unimolecular platform
chemical logic gates
photochromism
drug delivery
half-adder
quantum dots
molecular devices
fluorescence modulation
Author
U. Pischel
University of Huelva
Joakim Andreasson
Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry
D. Gust
Arizona State University
V. F. Pais
University of Huelva
ChemPhysChem
1439-4235 (ISSN) 1439-7641 (eISSN)
Vol. 14 1 28-46Photonic switching of molecular properties using photochromes
Swedish Research Council (VR) (2010-280), 2011-01-01 -- 2016-12-31.
Photochromic Systems for Solid State Molecular Electronic Devices and Light-Activated Cancer Drugs (PHOTOCHROMES)
European Commission (EC) (EC/FP7/203952), 2008-09-01 -- 2013-08-31.
Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)
Physical Chemistry
DOI
10.1002/cphc.201200157