At the limit of Moore's law: scientists develop molecule-sized transistors

Researchers find transistors can be produced consisting of atoms 600,000 times thinner than a human hair - paving way for atom-scale chips

Scientists have created a transistor made up of a single molecule. Surrounded by just 12 atoms, it is likely to be the smallest possible size for a transistor - and the hard limit for Moore's law.

The transistor is made of a single molecule of phthalocyanine surrounded by ring of 12 positively charged indium atoms placed on an indium arsenide crystal, as revealed in the scientific journal Nature Physics.