Re:Single-Molecule Transistors at Room Temperature
by hatsunearu on Tuesday August 22, 2017 @07:41PM
(#15077279)
>My understanding is that in theory two diodes can provide (at least some of) the functionality of a transistor.
very false. bipolar junction transistors have the structure of two diodes back to back but just because you sandwich two diodes doesn't mean it's automatically a transistor. the middle material has to be lightly doped and must be also very thin, or else it won't "trans" much.
Re:Single-Molecule Transistors at Room Temperature
by brudgers on Tuesday August 22, 2017 @08:05PM
(#15077387)
Sorry for not being as clear as I would have liked. I am not sure that current semiconductor approaches are relevant to the work of the lab. The analogy may be that the lab is developing a technical approach that is different from current techniques in a manner similar to the way semiconductors were different from vacuum tube techniques.
My understanding is that in theory two diodes can provide (at least some of) the functionality of a transistor. In practice, using current semiconductor technology, this is impractical/impossible. My reading of the article is the claim that it is possible to provide the behavior of transistors with the single molecule. That is not the same as claiming a single molecule mechanism uses the same technology as current integrated circuits. The analogy I would draw is that transistors have many of the same behaviors as vacuum tubes...or more perhaps more visually the same behaviors as valves in the British usage.
Of course I may be completely misunderstanding the article and it's claims, but that is how I resolved the various confusing implications.