• A new organic molecule exhibits record-breaking electrical conductivity, potentially replacing silicon in computer chips.
• The molecule's unique electron spin interaction enables lossless electron transport over significant distances, defying conventional molecular conductivity limitations.
• This breakthrough promises smaller, more energy-efficient, and cheaper computing devices with enhanced functionalities and is stable under normal conditions.

A research team has developed a new organic molecule that exhibits unprecedented electrical conductivity. This molecule, composed of elements such as carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen, offers the potential to replace silicon in computer chips, leading to smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient computing devices. The molecule's unique structure allows electrons to travel across it without significant energy loss, overcoming limitations of traditional molecular conductors. This development represents a significant advancement in molecular electronics and could revolutionize the future of computing.

• What: Development of a new organic molecule with exceptional electrical conductivity, potentially replacing silicon in computer chips and leading to smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient computing devices.
• Who: Researchers from the University of Miami, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Rochester, including Ignacio Franco, Kun Wang, and Jason Azoulay.
• When: Discovery announced in early May 2025, research published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
• Where: Research conducted at the University of Miami, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Rochester.

The development of this highly conductive organic molecule represents a significant breakthrough in molecular electronics. Its ability to efficiently transport electrons over long distances without energy loss overcomes a major limitation of previous molecular conductors. This advancement has the potential to revolutionize the computer chip industry by enabling the creation of smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient computing devices. The molecule's air-stable nature and potential for integration with existing nanoelectronic components further enhance its appeal for real-world applications. Additionally, its unique electron spin interaction opens doors to future applications in quantum computing.

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 ballistically 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. Not only can it downsize future electronic devices, but its structure could also enable functions that were not even possible with silicon-based materials.

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 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.

The development of this new organic molecule with exceptional electrical conductivity represents a significant advancement in the field of molecular electronics. Its potential to replace silicon in computer chips and enable smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient computing devices is substantial. While further research and development are needed to fully realize its potential, this breakthrough offers a promising path towards the future of computing.