He was the signature hire for the fledgling nanoelectronics programme at Texas Instruments (TI) in 1983, just after he completed his PhD at Syracuse University. His insights in exploiting quantum mechanics for new devices led to the demonstration of zero‐dimensional tunnelling in a heterostructure device he termed the ‘quantum dot’ (M. A. Reed et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 60, 535–537; 1988). This discovery led to decades of research on semiconducting quantum dots, quantum computing and numerous applications including semiconducting lasers and telecommunications. Mark pioneered the investigation of unipolar and bipolar resonant tunnelling transistors with an aim to add new functionality and enable new computing architectures. Early works of his on resonant tunnelling transistors were the precursors to current efforts in steep‐subthreshold‐swing tunnel field‐effect transistors. His tireless enthusiasm and creativity energized early efforts at TI and his ideas continue to reverberate through the research community.
Reed was recruited into the Yale faculty in 1990 and developed a visionary research programme on molecular electronics. His insights into nanofabrication and nanotechnology and its capabilities for allowing exploration of seemingly impossible measurements inspired all who knew him. His students vividly recall group meetings full of his boundless enthusiasm with comments such as ‘rules are meant to be broken!’. At the time, it was thought that electronic transport through a single molecule or a single atom was impossible in an electronic device because of physical limitations in nanofabrication. His immeasurable optimism and scientific intuition would soon lead to a work around. Sure enough, in collaboration with James Tour’s group at Rice University, his group showed how transport properties of molecules could be measured. In 1997 his group demonstrated conductance through a single molecule (M. A. Reed et al., Science 278, 252–254; 1997) and later went on to demonstrate a single molecule transistor. These results sparked broad interest in the field, which continues today.
