University of California

North Carolina State University

Zettacore, Inc.

David F Bocian

Jonathan S Lindsey

Werner G Kuhr

Zhiming Liu

Robert S Loewe

Amir A Yasseri

Daniel Tomasz Gryko

Peter Christian Clausen

Veena Misra

Shyam Surthi

Kristian A Roth

Qiliang Li

Qian Zhao

Kristian M Roth

Lingyun Wei

Kisari Padmaja

Jieying Jiao

Ignacio Sanchez

Rajeeve Balkrishna Dabke

Veen Misra

Karl-Heinz Schweikart

Amir Yesseri

This invention provides a new procedure for attaching molecules to semiconductor surfaces, in particular silicon. The molecules, which include, but are not limited to porphyrins and ferrocenes, have been previously shown to be attractive candidates for molecular-based information storage. The new attachment procedure is simple, can be completed in short times, requires minimal amounts of material, is compatible with diverse molecular functional groups, and in some instances affords unprecedented attachment motifs. These features greatly enhance the integration of the molecular materials into the processing steps that are needed to create hybrid molecular/semiconductor information storage devices.

High-temperature attachment of organic molecules to substrates

This invention provides novel methods for the formation of redox-active polymers attached to surfaces. In certain embodiments, the methods involve providing redox-active molecules bearing at least a first reactive site or group and a second reactive site or group; and contacting the surface with the redox-active molecules where the contacting is under conditions that result in attachment of said redox-active molecules to said surface via the first reactive site or group and attachment of redox-active molecules via the second reactive site or group, to the redox-active molecules attached to the surface thereby forming a polymer attached to said surface where the polymers comprise at least two of said redox-active molecules.

Procedure for preparing redox-active polymers on surfaces

This invention provides redox-active molecules attached to polypodal (e.g., bipodal, tripodal, quadrapodal, pentapodal, etc.) tethers that can be used for attachment of the redox-active molecules to a substrate (e.g., an electrode). The tethered redox-active molecules are useful for the fabrication of memory devices.

Multipodal tethers for high-density attachment of redox-active moieties to substrates

This invention provides a procedure for growing oligomers via a stepwise process. The oligomers can include porphyrins, which have been previously shown to be attractive candidates for molecular-based information storage. The stepwise synthesis procedure requires no protecting groups, thus eliminating protection/deprotection reactions that add complexity to the process.

Stepwise growth of oligomeric redox-active molecules on a surface without the use of protecting groups

This invention provides approaches to improve the signal to noise ratio (S/N) in electrochemical measurements (e.g., amperometry, voltammetry, etc.). In particular, a method is described wherein the faradaic current is temporally dissociated from the charging current associated with reading the charge of a redox-active species (e.g., a self-assembled monolayer (SAM)). This method, designated herein as open circuit potential amperometry (OCPA), quantitatively reads the charge of the redox species bound to (electrically coupled to) an electrode surface, while discriminating against both charging current(s) and amperometric signal(s) that arise, e.g., from diffusion-based species in solution.

Open circuit potential amperometry and voltammetry

This invention provides novel high density memory devices that are electrically addressable permitting effective reading and writing, that provide a high memory density (e.g., 10bits/cm), that provide a high degree of fault tolerance, and that are amenable to efficient chemical synthesis and chip fabrication. The devices are intrinsically latchable, defect tolerant, and support destructive or non-destructive read cycles. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a fixed electrode electrically coupled to a storage medium having a multiplicity of different and distinguishable oxidation states wherein data is stored in said oxidation states by the addition or withdrawal of one or more electrons from said storage medium via the electrically coupled electrode.

High density memory device

This invention provides a new method of forming a self-assembling monolayer (SAM) of alcohol-terminated or thiol-terminated organic molecules (e.g. ferrocenes, porphyrins, etc.) on a silicon or other group IV element surface. The assembly is based on the formation of an E-O&#x2014; or an E-S&#x2014; bond where E is the group IV element (e.g. Si, Ge, etc.). The procedure has been successfully used on both P- and n-type group IV element surfaces. The assemblies are stable under ambient conditions and can be exposed to repeated electrochemical cycling.

Formation of self-assembled monolayers of redox SAMs on silicon for molecular memory applications

This invention pertains to methods assembly of organic molecules and electrolytes in hybrid electronic. In one embodiment, a method is provided that involves contacting a surface/electrode with a compound of formula: R-L-M-L-Zwhere Zis a surface attachment group; Land Lare independently linker or covalent bonds; M is an information storage molecule; and R is a protected or unprotected reactive site or group; where the contacting results in attachment of the redox-active moiety to the surface via the surface attachment group; and ii) contacting the surface-attached information storage molecule with an electrolyte having the formula: J-Q where J is a charged moiety (e.g., an electrolyte); and Q is a reactive group that is reactive with the reactive group (R) and attaches J to the information storage molecule thereby patterning the electrolyte on the surface.

In situ patterning of electrolyte for molecular information storage devices

Attachment of organic molecules to group III, IV or V substrates

High temperature attachment of organic molecules to substrates

This invention provides a new design and fabrication for a three-dimensional crossbar architecture embedding a sub-micron or nanometer sized hole (called a molehole) in each cross-region. Each molehole is an electrochemical cell consisting of two or more sectional surfaces separated by a non-conductor (e.g. a dialectric layer and solid electrolyte). When used in electrochemical molecular memory device (EMMD), the architecture provides unique features such as a nano-scale electroactive surface, no interaction between memory elements, and easier miniaturization and integration.

Molehole embedded 3-D crossbar architecture used in electrochemical molecular memory device

High density molecular memory device

This invention provides novel high density memory devices (FIG.) that are electrically addressable permitting effective reading and writing, that provide a high memory density (102), that provide a high degree of fault tolerance, and that are amenable to efficient chemical synthesis and chip fabrication. The devices arc intrinsically latchable, defect tolerant, and support destructive or non-destructive read cycles. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a fixed electrode electrically coupled to a storage medium having a multiplicity of different and distinguishable oxidation states wherein data is stored in said oxidation states by the addition or withdrawal of one or more electrons from said storage medium via the electrically coupled electrode.

Growing community of inventors

Riverside, CA, United States of America

David F Bocian