Electronic devices, active/passive

For now, unimolecular electronic devices must be tested with inorganic electrodes, thinned out to atomic or oligoatomic sharp tips. Molecules either singly, or in parallel as a monolayer array (one molecule thick), have been shown to be either passive or active electronic components. There are two ways to connect a molecule to an inorganic metal electrode physisorption, and chemisorption. 

Active/passive device Active devices require input of power, most often low-level (5-24 V) DC, to achieve their specified function, with the ctmse-quence that their output RF power level can exceed RF input powo-. Passive devices, on the other hand, effect some transformation of the input signal without use of any external power source, so that the output power is always less than or equal to the input power. In the following, simple components are specified as active or passive (note that the addition of an electronic control system, e.g., a motor drive to set the value of a variable attenuator, is not considered grounds for calling a component active). The active/passive distinction is made only for circuit components having an input and output, not for measurement instrumentation (e.g., a frequency counter), the output of which is a visual indication or computer bus-compatible signal. 

Valve Metal, Si and Ceramic Oxides as Dielectric Films for Passive and Active Electronic Devices... 

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