Molecular wire crossbar flash memory

The present invention is directed generally to electronic devices whose functional length scales are measured in nanometers, and, more particularly, to configurable transistors based on crossed nanometer-scale wires. Such configurable transistors find use, for example as nanometer-scale memories, and, more particularly, as flash memories at a nanometer scale. A nano-scale flash memory comprises: (a) source and drain regions in a plurality of approximately parallel first wires, the first wires comprising a semiconductor material, the source and drain regions separated by a channel region; (b) gate electrodes in a plurality of approximately parallel second wires, the second wires comprising either a semiconductor material or a metal, the second wires crossing the first wires at a non-zero angle over the channel regions, to form an array of nanoscale transistors; and (c) a hot electron trap region at each intersection of the first wires with the second wires. Additionally, crossed-wire transistors are provided that can either form a configurable transistor or a switch memory bit that is capable of being set by application of a voltage. The crossed-wire transistors can be formed in a crossbar array.