Research Summary

Chronology of research:

2001-2003: Organic supramolecular electronics, memory-switching, soft-computing, information processing using organic molecular devices, molecular properties role of functional groups.

2003-2004: DNA nano-electronics, organic solar cell, self-assembled solar cell, organic templating by stamping.

2004-2005: Advanced memory switching devices, optical memory.

2006-2008: Single molecule memory-switching device, world's smallest neural network using organic molecules

2008-2010: Replicating neural network in a nano-wheel, Brain like computing on an organic molecular layer, multiple conformers of a single molecule.

2009-2013: Synthesis of organic supramolecular structure for brain jelly, design and synthesis of a single molecular rotor driven by noise, a molecular machine for Alzheimers, Cancer and microtubule interaction. Complete physical characterization of a single brain microtubule and a single protein molecule.

2013-.......: Single hippocampus neuron, frequency fractal, image recognition and complete brain model development, brain rhythms and its relation with radio wave and microwave technology.

The vision and the objective of our research:

Molecular machines (MM) connected to an intelligent brain may resolve three distinct bottlenecks of scientific advancement.

First, energy crisis: Nano-factories composed of MM may produce atomically perfect products spending negligible amount of energy, thus alleviating the energy crisis looming large over the human civilization.

Second, intractable problems:, computers made by MM operating thousands of bits at a time may match biological processors mimicking creativity and intelligence, thus far considered as the prerogative of nature. No man made machine has this property. Moreover, there are some computational problems, which cannot be solved in a finite time or no algorithm is known for those problems. Our recently invented nano-brain can solve intractable problems as human brain does.

Third evolving diseases: State-of-the-art brain surgeries are not yet fatal-less, MMs guided by a nano-brain may execute perfect bloodless surgery.

Then, what is original in our approach?

Even though all three bottlenecks converge to a single necessity of nano-brain, futurists and molecular engineers have remained silent on this issue. Our recent invention of 16 bit parallel processor is a first step in this direction. However, the device operates inside ultra-high vacuum chamber. For practical application, one needs to design a 3D standalone architecture of a nano brain that is operational in a human cell, which is currently undergoing rigorous testing in a human cell.

A short introduction to our activities:

1. Brief: Use versatility of atomic orbitals inside a molecule and weak interaction between molecules to develop a molecular cellular automata based bio-processor. An intelligent organic monolayer is developed that can process information like our neural system, and thus build an ultimate 3 D parallel processor using bio/organic materials.

2. Ultimate goal: Making intelligent parallel 3 D bio-processor based on neural network using an advanced version of the currently built cellular automata on an organic monolayer.

3. Details: Developing an alternative to moletronics. Using concept of a neuron, building several multi-level single molecule nano-switches and several single molecule integrated circuits, which are smallest in the world. Combining ultimate single molecule integrated circuits (SMIC) and supramolecular electronics (supartonics) an intelligent monolayer is designed and neural network like matrix operation is carried out on this surface. We realised the concept of neuronlike single molecule switch, and the first SMIC. Currently work is progressing on 3 D cellular automaton.

4. Experimental tools: Self-Assembled Monolayer (SAM), Layer by Layer Electrostatic Self-Assembly (ESA), Electrodeposition, Electronic characterisation of RAM and ROM, Impedance Spectroscopy, Variable Angle Ellipsometry, UHV-STM, AFM, SEM, and Absorption Spectroscopy.

5. Theoretical tools: Virtual NanoLab (VNL). For transport simulation in two probe devices and NT-STM for STM image simulation, density functional theory (DFT) using Gaussian 03.

Contact: Anirban Bandyopadhyay, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Japan-305-0037