| 摘要 |
Observable changes in the electrical and optical characteristics of individual molecules (40) adsorbed on a conductor (41) or semi-conductor (50) caused by the electrical (4) and/or optical excitation (5) or de-excitation of electrons within such molecules can be used as signals which in turn can be used to carry information and such observable information carrying changes or signals can be switched (3), amplified (38), and modulated by varying the optical (20) as well as the electrical inputs (41) to such molecules. In the invention electro-optical molecules (40) are adsorbed on a substrate. The natural characteristic of such a molecule is altered by ionization or electron transfer; more specifically an electron is excited to an excited state. Electron transfer, trapping, or excitation/state change, or molecule ionization is effected and controlled as a function of (1) electric potential across an adsorbed molecule or a layer or layers of such molecules and/or (2) wavelength(s)/frequency(ies) and intensity(ies) of the incident illumination thereof. Such electron transfer, transfer, trapping, or state change causes a change in the natural or non-perturbed optical response of the adsorbed molecule. The optical response can be detected using Raman spectroscopy (10), preferably surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Such detection or analysis provides a spatial distribution of the Raman lines, each having a particular intensity or magnitude level, thus providing multioutput and multilevel operation of the device. Analysis of the frequency or spatial distribution as well as the intensity of such output signal(s) or information identifies where such electron is trapped or transferred in the adsorbed molecule. Operation is at high speed, e.g. on the order of 10-<13> to 10-<15> second, and is functional at conventional room ambient temperatures. |
