Light-stimulable molecules/nanoparticles networks for switchable logical functions and reservoir computing

Abstract

We report the fabrication and electron transport properties of nanoparticles self-assembled networks (NPSAN) of molecular switches (azobenzene derivatives) interconnected by Au nanoparticles, and we demonstrate optically-driven switchable logical operations associated to the light controlled switching of the molecules. The switching yield is up to 74%. We also demonstrate that these NPSANs are prone for light-stimulable reservoir computing. The complex non-linearity of electron transport and dynamics in these highly connected and recurrent networks of molecular junctions exhibit rich high harmonics generation (HHG) required for reservoir computing (RC) approaches. Logical functions and HHG are controlled by the isomerization of the molecules upon light illumination. These results, without direct analogs in semiconductor devices, open new perspectives to molecular electronics in unconventional computing.

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• Multiple Cotunneling in Large Quantum Dot Arrays
• High on-off conductance switching ratio in optically-driven self-assembled conjugated molecular systems
• A 17 GHz Molecular Rectifier
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Cited by in corpus (5)

• Conductance Switching of Azobenzene-Based Self-Assembled Monolayers on Cobalt Probed by UHV Conductive-AFM
• Electrical detection of plasmon-induced isomerization in molecule-nanoparticle network devices
• Low frequency noise in nanoparticle-molecule networks and implications for in-materio reservoir computing
• Electroisomerization blinking of an azobenzene derivative molecule
• Low-temperature cotunneling electron transport in photo-switchable molecule-nanoparticle networks