• A new organic molecule demonstrates record-breaking electrical conductivity over long distances, challenging the limitations of silicon-based electronics.
• The molecule's unique design allows electrons to travel without energy loss, enabling more efficient and potentially quantum computing.
• The molecule is stable, cost-effective to produce, and can be integrated with existing nanoelectronic components, opening up possibilities for smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient computers.

Scientists have developed a novel organic molecule exhibiting unprecedented electrical conductivity, potentially revolutionizing the landscape of computer chip technology. This breakthrough addresses the limitations of traditional silicon-based electronics, which face challenges in miniaturization and energy efficiency. The new molecule, composed of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen, allows electrons to travel over substantial distances without losing energy, paving the way for smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient computing devices. This research represents a significant step toward molecular electronics and offers new opportunities for quantum information science.

• What: Development of a new organic molecule with high electrical conductivity over long distances.
• Who: Research team including scientists from the University of Miami, Georgia Institute of Technology, and University of Rochester, led by Kun Wang, Jason Azoulay, and Ignacio Franco.
• When: Research published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society in May 2025.
• Where: Research conducted in laboratories at the University of Miami, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Universidad Andrés Bello.

This breakthrough addresses critical limitations in current silicon-based technology, which is approaching its physical limits in terms of miniaturization and efficiency. The developed molecule's unique ability to transport electrons without energy loss could lead to significant advancements in computing power, energy efficiency, and manufacturing costs. The molecule's air stability and potential for integration with existing components further enhance its practical applications. The discovery also opens doors for molecule-based quantum information science, potentially revolutionizing data transfer, processing, and storage.

Molecules are nature’s tiniest, mightiest, and most configurable building blocks and can be engineered to build ultra-compact, ultra-efficient technology for everything from computers to quantum devices.

This work is the first demonstration that organic molecules can allow electrons to migrate across it without any energy loss over several tens of nanometers.

What’s unique in our molecular system is that electrons travel across the molecule like a bullet without energy loss, so it is theoretically the most efficient way of electron transport in any material system.

The ultra-high electrical conductance observed in our molecules is a result of an intriguing interaction of electron spins at the two ends of the molecule. In the future, one could use this molecular system as a qubit, which is a fundamental unit for quantum computing.

In terms of application, this molecule is a big leap toward real-world applications. Since it is chemically robust and air-stable, it could even be integrated with existing nanoelectronic components in a chip and work as an electronic wire or interconnects between chips.

The development of this highly conductive organic molecule represents a significant advancement in the field of molecular electronics. Its potential to overcome the limitations of silicon-based technology and enable smaller, more efficient, and cost-effective computing devices is substantial. While further research and development are needed to integrate this molecule into practical applications, the initial findings are promising and could pave the way for a new era of computing.