Processing Energy and Signals by Molecular and Supramolecular Systems

Abstract

Any kind of device or machine requires a substrate, energy, and information signals. If we wish to operate at the nanometer scale, we must use molecules as substrates. Energy- and signal-processing at a molecular level relies on cause/effect relationships between the input supplied and the kind of process obtained. We have classified energy- and signal-processing at the molecular level according to the nature of the input (electronic, photonic, or chemical) and the nature of the obtained effect (electronic, photonic, or chemical process that follows). By coupling the three kinds of inputs with the three types of resulting processes, nine types of molecular-based processes (electronic, photonic, chemionic, electrophotonic, electrochemionic, photoelectronic, photochemionic, chemiophotonic, and chemioelectronic) can be identified. In this concept article, looking at molecular transformations in an unconventional way, we have tried to give a flavor of some of the new features that project the old science of chemistry towards novel achievements.

Taking baby steps in molecular logic-based computation

“…Sometimes we spot a tall profile growing around the corner within milliseconds, and our leg muscles tense and raise us off the seat. This is the edge detection in our eyes and brains kicking- 25 in, concluding rapidly that the tall profile peeking round the corner matches the tall profile of a bus (as compared to the many cars on the road). But then, as more of the object emerges from round the corner, its details show that it is not the bus but only a lorry.…”

“…H + -driven YES logic. These logic signatures of 6 and 7 are manifested 25 experimentally by observing the fluorescence intensities of the tagged objects with a microscope after gentle exposure to the 'high' and 'low' levels of H + (Figures 5a and 5b respectively). The YES gate shows strong emission only in acidic solution (beads E and I) whereas the PASS 1 gate glows constantly 30 whatever the pH (beads A, C and G), i.e.…”

Molecular machines operated by light

“…As it happens in the macroscopic world, molecularlevel devices and machines need energy to operate and signals to communicate with the operator [53]. The most obvious way to supply energy to a chemical system is through an exergonic chemical reaction.…”

Old Molecules, New Concepts: [Ru(bpy)3]2+ as a Molecular Encoder–Decoder

“…[2][3][4][5] In particular, the rapid development of signal processing at the molecular level [6] has projected chemistry toward the frontiers of information science and nanotechnology.…”