Project Grant 2437811

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $273,615 EAGER (Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research) project grant under the NSF Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) to the University of Central Florida (UCF) to advance the science and technology of molecular tunnel junctions, a fundamental building block of molecular electronics. The project seeks to develop novel multifunctional molecular electronic devices that leverage the unique properties of molecular-scale materials, including in-operando reconfigurable molecular switches and optically active molecular devices. The research encompasses fundamental studies in physics and chemistry as well as device engineering, with the goal of enabling future molecular electronic applications that complement traditional silicon-based technologies. The project will also incorporate educational activities to train the next generation of quantum and semiconductor technology workforce, including high school student internships and graduate student research experiences at UCF.