title: Azobenzenes as light-controlled molecular electronic switches in nanoscale metal-molecule-metal junctions.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: ISIS-CNRS 7006, Université Louis Pasteur, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mativetsky
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elbing
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rampi
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayor
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Samorì