Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention operationally macrocyclic molecular structures are employed to input and/or to read out information, electrical potential, optical characteristics, energy levels, state information, etc. with respect to another material, such as a neurological or biological material, nucleic acid or other materials. In one example disclosed in the above mentioned application macrocyclic molecules were adsorbed on a silver substrate; in the present invention the operationally macrocyclic molecular structure is adsorbed onto other substrates, such as nerve cells, muscles, nucleic acid (RNA and DNA), etc.

Abstract: Observable changes in the electrical and optical characteristics of individual molecules adsorbed on a conductor or semi-conductor caused by the electrical and/or optical excitation or de-excitation of electrons within such molecules can be used as signals which in turn can be used to carry information and such observable information carrying changes or signals can be switched, amplified, and modulated by varying the optical as well as the electrical inputs to such molecules. In the invention electro-optical molecules are adsorbed on a substrate. The natural characteristic of such a molecule is altered by ionization or electron transfer; more specifically an electron is excited to an excited state. Electron transfer, trapping, or excitation/state change, or molecule ionization is effected and controlled as a function of (1) electric potential across an adsorbed molecule or a layer or layers of such molecules and/or (2) wavelength(s)/frequency(ies) and intensity(ies) of the incident illumination thereof.