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Research Matters: Ultra-conductive molecule sets stage for post-silicon computing era

University of Rochester chemist and physicist Ignacio Franco says the discovery opens new possibilities for smaller and energy-efficient computers.

May 13, 2025

1 min

A research team has uncovered what it believes is “the world’s most electrically conductive organic molecule,” a discovery that opens new possibilities for building smaller, more powerful, and more energy-efficient computers.


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It could also allow computer chip manufacturers to eliminate their reliance on silicon and metal as conductors.


“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,” said Ignacio Franco, who was part of the research team that was led by scientists at the University of Miami.


Their research was detailed in a paper published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.


The molecule, which is composed of chemical elements found in nature, including carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen, can carry electrical current over record-breaking distances without losing efficiency.


Using molecular materials in electronic chips offers several advantages. They consume less power.

They can be more easily customized than silicon. They are more environmentally friendly. And, perhaps most importantly to manufacturers, they are potentially cheaper to produce.


“This molecular design overcomes many of the big issues that for decades have prevented the use of molecules in electronics,” Franco said.


To learn more about this ground-breaking research, read about it at the University of Rochester News Center, and contact Franco at ignacio.franco@rochester.edu.


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