Molecular electronics is the study and application of electronic devices and circuits that are made from molecules and molecular assemblies. The term covers a wide range of research activities, from the development of new molecular materials to the design and fabrication of molecular electronic devices. Molecular electronics has the potential to revolutionize the way electronic devices are made. The small size of molecules allows for the fabrication of devices with very small feature sizes. In addition, the chemical properties of molecules can be exploited to create novel device architectures and functions.
Some of the emerging trends in molecular electronics include the use of single-molecule devices, the use of molecular wires, and the use of molecular switches.