Scientists create first molecular transistor

Researchers including Mark Reed from Yale were able to demonstrate that a single benzene molecule attached to gold contacts could behave like a traditional silicon transistor. The energy states of the molecules are able to be manipulated depending on the voltage applied to the contracts. The manipulation of the energy state allows the researchers to control the current passing through the molecule.

Reed said, "It's like rolling a ball up and over a hill, where the ball represents electrical current and the height of the hill represents the molecule's different energy states. We were able to adjust the height of the hill, allowing current to get through when it was low, and stopping the current when it was high."