title: Tuning the conductance of a molecular switch.
abstract: The ability to control the conductance of single molecules will have a major impact in nanoscale electronics. Azobenzene, a molecule that changes conformation as a result of a trans/cis transition when exposed to radiation, could form the basis of a light-driven molecular switch. It is therefore crucial to clarify the electrical transport characteristics of this molecule. Here, we investigate, theoretically, charge transport in a system in which a single azobenzene molecule is attached to two carbon nanotubes. In clear contrast to gold electrodes, the nanotubes can act as true nanoscale electrodes and we show that the low-energy conduction properties of the junction may be dramatically modified by changing the topology of the contacts between the nanotubes and the molecules, and/or the chirality of the nanotubes (that is, zigzag or armchair). We propose experiments to demonstrate controlled electrical switching with nanotube electrodes.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Valle
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tejedor
authors.forename: Gianaurelio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cuniberti
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D039301:Computers, Molecular; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D008956:Models, Chemical; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010316:Particle Size; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; C009850:azobenzene