Physical integration of chemical logic gates

Abstract

Recent research in molecular logic gates produced molecular equivalence of highly complex digital designs. Advanced data processing at the molecular level requires a considerable degree of integration (concatenation) between molecular logic gates. So far, almost all the integration reported in the literature has been “virtual”, meaning that the outputs at various channels are determined first and then an integrated set of logic gates is proposed to be operating on inputs to produce those outputs. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that at some point there has to be methods to physically connect one molecular logic gate to the other one, for a rational design and implementation. In this study, we synthesized a few derivatives of the well known fluorophore “Bodipy” and then proposed two methodologies to concatenate separately existing and functioning Bodipy-based chemical logic gates. In one instance, we coupled a photochromicity-based AND gate to an ion-responsive Bodipy-based AND gate, making use of the modulation of inner filter effect. In the other example, we coupled two ion-responsive Bodipy-based AND gates through the increased efficiency of energy transfer and “click” chemistry. We are certain that these methodologies are highly promising and our studies are in progress to demonstrate more complex examples of physical integration.