Singapore Researchers Use FEI Titan S/TEM to Link Plasmonics With Molecular Electronics
June 24 2014 - 8:34AM
FEI (Nasdaq:FEIC) congratulates its customers, National University
of Singapore, Singapore University of Technology and Design, and
the A*STAR institutes: Institute of High Performance Computing and
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, on their recent
discovery of quantum plasmonic tunneling--a finding they described
in Science on the 28th of March1
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/343/6178/1496.abstract.
Plasmon tunneling is a quantum-mechanical effect where electrons
rapidly oscillate across very closely-spaced metal structures.
Using a Titan™ scanning/transmission electron microscope (S/TEM),
the scientists were able to not only observe this new phenomenon
directly, but also control the frequency of the tunneling currents
by placing single layers of different molecules between the
closely-spaced metal particles. The speed of the switching will
directly depend on the nature of the molecules used.
"In our research, we were able to demonstrate that the rapid
current oscillations could take place over distances larger than a
nanometer, which, although extremely small, opens up possibilities
for new technological applications," states one of the researchers
and Science paper authors, Dr. Michel Bosman, Institute of
Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR, Singapore.
Surface plasmons in metal particles can be introduced by simply
shining light of the right color on them. By using the researchers'
approach, incoming light will then produce the small tunneling
currents between the nearby metal particles. In effect, tiny
electrical circuits are made that operate at enormously high
speeds.
Today's electrical circuits can operate up to GHz frequencies,
but due to design issues, this is close to their inherent speed
limit at room temperature. In order for devices to work faster,
entirely new circuit designs are required. The research presented
here shows a possible route for such optical circuits, by
light-generated tunneling currents with operation speeds tens of
thousands of times faster than today's microprocessors.
Trisha Rice, vice president and general manager of Materials
Science for FEI, comments, "This is incredible work being done by
these researchers in Singapore, using the high-energy resolution of
a monochromated Titan S/TEM to directly observe and control a
quantum plasmonic tunneling event. Congratulations on this
achievement and we look forward to learning of new and exciting
results in this area."
1 "Quantum Plasmon Resonances Controlled by Molecular Tunnel
Junctions,"Shu Fen Tan et al, Science 343, 1496 (2014); DOI
10.1126/science. 1248797.
About FEI
FEI Company (Nasdaq:FEIC) designs, manufactures and supports a
broad range of high-performance microscopy workflow solutions that
provide images and answers at the micro-, nano- and picometer
scales. Its innovation and leadership enable customers in industry
and science to increase productivity and make breakthrough
discoveries. Headquartered in Hillsboro, Ore., USA, FEI has over
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countries around the world. More information can be found at:
www.fei.com.
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