66853 - Elaboration of Signals with Chemical Systems

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will know the basic concepts and the methods for the use of molecular and supramolecular systems for gathering, processing and storing information. The systems described include chemosensors, molecular wires, switches and connectors, logic gates and circuits, and memory elements based on chemical species.

Course contents

Prerequisites
The student attending this course has a solid basic background in the areas of general and inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry and organic chemistry. These prerequisites are provided by the Bachelor's degrees belonging to the class L27 – chemical sciences and technologies. The student knows the english language, because the slides shown in the lectures as well as the books and articles proposed for learning and in-depth analyses are in english.

1. Basic concepts
Signal processing in biology; analog and digital signals; combinational and sequential logic; logic reversibility; logic reconfiguration and functional superimposition

2. Molecular sensors, switches and memories
Examples of chemosensors and molecular switches, with particular reference to systems exhibiting luminescence output signals

3. Molecular electronics
The unimolecular rectifier; single-molecule electrical junctions; hysteresis and memory effects in molecular junctions

4. Logic gates
Examples of molecular logic gates: PASS, YES, NOT, AND, OR, XOR, INH

5. Combinational and sequential logic circuits
Examples of half/full-adder and half/full-subtractor, multiplexer/demultiplexer, encoder/decoder, keypad lock, flip flop

6. Systems based on biomolecules
Logic gates and circuits made from DNA or nucleic acid/enzyme ensembles

7. Applications
Use of logic operations for the control of biological functions, activation of drugs and therapies, identification of microscopic objects

Readings/Bibliography

Journal articles
V. Balzani, A. Credi, M. Venturi,Chem. Eur. J.2008,14, 26
A. P. de Silva, S. Uchiyama,Nature Nanotech.2007,2, 399
A. Credi,Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2007,108, 3481 K. Szacilowski,Chem. Rev.2008,108, 3481 G. de Ruiter, M. van der Boom,J. Mater. Chem.2011,21, 17575
Books V. Balzani, A. Credi, M. Venturi,Molecular Devices and Machines - Concepts and Perspectives for the Nanoworld, Wiley-VCH,2008, Chapters 8 and 9 K. Szacilowski,Infochemistry - Information Processing at the Nanoscale, Wiley,2012

Teaching methods

The course consists of class lectures with the use of computer slides. The slides are made available in advance to the students (see Tools).

Assessment methods

The learning assessment takes place only with the final exam. The acquisition of the learning outcomes is ascertained by means of an oral exam with an average duration of 20 minutes.

The exame consists of the presentation of a brief scientific article chosen by the student, connected to a topic dealt with in the course, and successive discussion with the teacher; the student may be supported by images and diagrams, possibly organized in a computer presentation.

Teaching tools

The transparencies used in the lectures will be made available through the Internet (UniBo > Alberto Credi > Insegnamenti > Chimica > Materiale didattico). Selected bibliographic material (review articles) will also be available for download from the same site.

Links to further information

http://www.credi-group.it

Office hours

See the website of Alberto Credi