Controlled transport through a single molecule.
We demonstrate how an electrode-molecule-electrode junction can be controllably opened and closed by careful tuning of the contacts' interspace and voltage. The molecule, an octanethiol, flips to bridge a ~1 nm interspace between substrate and scanning tunnelling microscope tip when an electric field exceeds a threshold (switch 'on'). Reducing the field below this threshold value leads to the reproducible detachment of the octanethiol (switch 'off'). Once contacted, a further reduction of the contacts' interspace leads to an increase of the conductance of the molecule.
Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials, MESAC Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
A
A
Kumar
R
R
Heimbuch
B
B
Poelsema
H J W
HJ
Zandvliet