Improving Low Current Measurements on Nanoelectronic and Molecular Electronic Devices

Moore’s Law states that circuit density will double every 18 months. However, in order to maintain this rate of increase, there must be fundamental changes in the way circuits are formed. Over the past few years, there have been significant and exciting developments in nanotechnology, particularly in the areas of nanoelectronics and molecular electronic (also called moletronic) devices. The 2001 International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors projects that by 2004, devices should shrink to 0.09 micron (90nm) structures, the upper end of the nanostructure size range. However, a few semiconductor companies that claim to be fabricating devices smaller than 100nm are already challenging that level.