Scientists at IBM in Zurich, Switzerland, took an image of a molecule's surface using non-contact atomic-force microscopy, a development that would assist in the construction of cheaper and more power efficient computing elements.

Understanding the anatomy of the molecule at the atomic scale can help scientists to manipulate molecules and atoms in chips.

In the experiment, IBM scientists were able to map the chemical structure of the pentacene molecule with the help of the atomic-force microscopy.

The experiment was conducted in an ultra-high vacuum and at a temperature of minus 268 degrees Centigrade to map the chemical structure of a pentacene molecule, which has a crystal structure that grants it properties as an organic semiconductor.

Gerhard Meyer, a scientist at IBM Research, said, "It is accepted that in the future this work can contribute to assemble prototypical structures of molecular systems and the idea is these circuits could have much lower power consumption and reduce fabrication costs."

Chip-manufacturers have been working hard for many years to speed up performance and reducing power consumption and size of the chips.

The experiment, which published in the August 28 issue of the journal Science, was conducted in collaboration with Utrecht University's Peter Liljeroth.