Azobenzenes as light-controlled molecular electronic switches in nanoscale metal-molecule-metal junctions.
Conductance switching associated with the photoisomerization of azobenzene-based (Azo) molecules was observed in nanoscopic metal-molecule-metal junctions. The junctions were formed by using a conducting atomic force microscope (C-AFM) approach, where a metallic AFM tip was used to electrically contact a gold-supported Azo self-assembled monolayer. The measured 30-fold increase in conductance is consistent with the expected decrease in tunneling barrier length resulting from the conformational change of the Azo molecule.
Mativetsky
Jeffrey M
JM
ISIS-CNRS 7006, Université Louis Pasteur, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
Pace
Giuseppina
G
Elbing
Mark
M
Rampi
Maria A
MA
Mayor
Marcel
M
Samorì
Paolo
P