Molecular Scale Electronics

A material on a molecular scale

About us

Molecular electronics uses individual molecules and molecular layers to perform functions, such as switching and memory, typically associated with traditional semiconductor devices. Our research has shown that the unique quantum and electronic properties of molecules has the potential to enable ultra-miniaturised devices surpassing current silicon-based technology in efficiency, scalability, and functionality.

Molecular electronics at Lancaster is an interdisciplinary research activity to develop novel molecular materials directed towards a range of applications with an emphasis on molecular electronics, green energy materials, digital chemistry, quantum electronic sensors, and novel molecular synthesis.

Our research is leading activity in organic thermoelectrics for waste heat recovery, low power memristive devices for neuromorphic computing and AI, small atom cluster ultra-efficient catalysts, amorphous porous materials for batteries and gas storage, quantum transport and on-chip atomic clocks, organic electronic materials, and organic synthesis and materials design.

Molecular scale electronics at Lancaster is a major and rapidly growing cross-disciplinary theme, with £10M of grant awards in the last year and a working community of 7 senior academic researchers and over 40 PhD and postdoctoral researchers.

Recent Major Research Awards

Quantum engineering of energy-efficient molecular materials (QMol)

QMol is a £7M, five-year project, funded by the EPSRC. It is led by Professor Colin Lambert alongside Professor Benjamin Robinson and Dr Samuel Jarvis and a world leading team of scientists from Oxford University, University of Liverpool, Imperial College London, and the STFC Central Laser Facility, to develop radically new organic materials for everything from smart textiles to self-powered patches for healthcare.

QMol will realise a new generation of switchable organic/organometallic compounds, with the potential to fulfil societal needs for flexible energy harvesting materials, low-power neuromorphic computing, smart textiles and self-powered patches for healthcare. The possibility of creating these exciting materials derives from a series of world firsts by the investigators which demonstrate that advantageous room-temperature quantum interference effects can be scaled up from single molecules to self-assembled monolayers by using new strategies for controlling molecular conformation and energy levels with new methods of molecular assembly which can then be deployed in printed scalable architectures.

For more details see the QMol website.

Memristive Organometallic Devices formed from self-assembled multilayers (MemOD)

MemOD is a £2.1M EPSRC Project led by Professor Benjamin Robinson in collaboration with Professor Colin Lambert at Lancaster, Professor Christopher Ford of the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge and Professor Martin Bryce of the Department of Chemistry, University of Durham.

The aim of the MemOD project is to demonstrate a new class of high-performance memristive devices formed from ordered, self-assembled molecular multilayers of novel organometallic components, in contact with scalable, CMOS-compatible electrodes. Our vision is to make the next step change towards new technologies for faster, more powerful and more energy-efficient computing architectures.

Vibrating carbon nanotubes for probing quantum systems at the mesoscale (Mesophone)

Mesophone is a six-year €2.7M project funded by the ERC and led by prof Edward Laird to explore mesoscopic quantum effects using carbon nanotubes. The mesoscopic scale spans the boundary between the macroscopic and microscopic realms, where classical and quantum physics hold sway, respectively. Many fascinating quantum phenomena can emerge at the mesoscopic scale. The EU-funded MesoPhone project will use vibrating carbon nanotubes to probe quantum phenomena at the mesoscopic scale. Nanotubes are ideal for experimental investigations in this region as they can be isolated from thermal noise and be deflected by tiny forces. Moreover, because of their small size, their behaviour is significantly affected by quantum jitter. The project's results could help resolve longstanding questions in physics, such as whether a moving object that contains millions of particles could exist in a superposition of states.

Theme Lead

Dr Samuel Jarvis

Senior Lecturer in Nanoscale Materials Characterisation

Dr Sam Jarvis a Senior Lecturer in Physics, Director of the Lancaster IsoLab, and head of Lancaster XPS. He leads the Atomic Imaging and Surface Chemistry group at Lancaster University, where his research is driven by the desire to explore fundamental phenomena using atomic scale imaging and molecular assembly, and to address major challenges in translating functional 2D and 3D molecular materials into real-world environments. His research spans funded projects addressing fundamental surface science, molecular electronics, thermoelectric green energy materials, single atom catalysts, green hydrogen generation, antiviral and antifouling surfaces, and atomically engineered 2D materials.

Dr Samuel Jarvis

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Our facilities

Two academics looking at the Scanning Probe Microscope

Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM)

Our extensive scanning probe microscopy (SPM) capabilities provide a wide range of sample characterisation at multiple length scales. At small length scales we have internationally leading expertise in single molecule and atomic resolution imaging using UHV-STM, UHV-ncAFM, liquid STM or ambient AFM instruments housed in the Lancaster IsoLab. At molecular to micron scales our SPM instruments also provide correlative and multi-parametric mapping including measurement of electrical and thermal conductance, mechanical, thermoelectric, charge, and electrochemical properties via methods including AFM, cAFM, KPFM, SThM, nanomechanics, and Seebeck mapping. For more information contact Dr Samuel Jarvis.

Scanning Electron Microscope Analysis with FIB, EBSD/EDS and Raman (SAFER)

One of only two systems in the UK, the SAFER system offers a huge range of analysis options to probe materials in the micron/nanoscale domain. Analytic capabilities include a Field Emission Gun Scanning Electron Microscope, a focussed ion beam and a 3-laser Raman imaging platform. The system provides point, line, and mapping capability with full correlative analysis, allowing overlays of SEM images and EDS, EBSD and Raman maps. Samples can be made fully compatible with other instruments in the MSL facilities pathway for correlative study with multiple techniques. For more information see the SAFER page, or contact Dr Richard Wilbraham.

SAFER
Academics and students using the SAFER equipment
A student working on the Lancaster XPS

X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (Lancaster XPS)

The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) facility, Lancaster XPS, provides state-of-the-art facilities to study the elemental and chemical structure of materials. Our Kratos AXIS Supra X-ray photoemission spectrometer provides high-throughput XPS chemical analysis, and is fitted with radial distribution chamber, 3D chemical depth profile milling, chemical imaging mode, air-sensitive sample transport, integrated sample heating and cryo cooling, and temperature programmed XPS. Samples can be made fully compatible with other instruments in the MSL facilities pathway for correlative study. For more information see the Lancaster XPS page, or contact Dr Samuel Jarvis.

Lancaster XPS

Molecular Assembly and Transfer

We have expertise in fabricating surface coatings and thin films across the full range of length scales from single atoms and molecules to thick micron-scale coatings. Facilities include self-assembly, drop casting, spin coating, Langmuir-Blodgett deposition, plasma polymerisation, PVD, UHV thermal evaporation, and UHV electrospray deposition. We have particular expertise in molecular deposition and assembly utilising a range of characterisation methods to assess sample quality and performance. For more information contact Professor Benjamin Robinson.

Carbon molecules joined together
Academics working in the cleanroom

Device Fabrication and Cleanroom Facilities

Nanoelectronic device fabrication is the process of creating nanoscale structures and patterns on materials to create functional devices. Advanced tools for nanofabrication at Lancaster include Electron Beam Lithography (EBL), sputter deposition, evaporation, atomic layer deposition, plasma cleaning, and characterisation including four-probe measurement, Raman, and Photoluminescence. These tools are linked to class 100 and class 1000 cleanroom facilities available through the Lancaster Quantum Technology Centre. For more information contact Professor Edward Laird.

Quantum Technology Centre

High End Computing facility (HEC)

The High-End Computing (HEC) Cluster is a centrally-run service to support researchers and research students at Lancaster who require high-performance and high-throughput computing. The combined facility offers 13,000 cores, 59TB of aggregate memory, 24 Tesla V100 GPUs, 230TB of GPFS-based filestore for general use and 10PB of Ceph-based filestore for GridPP data. For more information see the Research Software Engineering page, or contact Professor Abbie Trewin or Professor Colin Lambert.

Research Software Engineering
Computer GPUs
An academic and a student in the ULT IsoLab pod

IsoLab Ultra-low Noise Facility

IsoLab is a dedicated building and suite of laboratories designed to provide the most advanced environments for studying materials and quantum systems in controlled conditions. The building sits on its own massive concrete foundation, with three above-ground laboratories each contained in their own separate pod. In the basement of each pod sits a 50-ton concrete isolation block floating on air springs. IsoLab research includes Nano-imaging and microscopy, Quantum Optics, and Ultra-low Temperatures, housing facilities used by researchers and industry across Materials, Physics, and Chemistry. For more information see the IsoLab page, or contact Dr Samuel Jarvis.

Isolab