Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a new manufacturing technique that could help unlock the potential of molecule-based electronics. The new approach allows delicate molecular materials to be built into electronic devices without being damaged, opening the door to smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient technologies. Molecules are among the smallest building blocks that scientists can use to create electronic devices. The team demonstrated the strength of the technique by manufacturing more than 1,000 molecular electronic devices containing layers less than one nanometer thick. Because the method is compatible with existing semiconductor manufacturing, it could make it much easier to bring molecular materials into future commercial technologies.