title: Controlled switching of single-molecule junctions by mechanical motion of a phenyl ring.
abstract: Mechanical methods for single-molecule control have potential for wide application in nanodevices and machines. Here we demonstrate the operation of a single-molecule switch made functional by the motion of a phenyl ring, analogous to the lever in a conventional toggle switch. The switch can be actuated by dual triggers, either by a voltage pulse or by displacement of the electrode, and electronic manipulation of the ring by chemical substitution enables rational control of the on-state conductance. Owing to its simple mechanics, structural robustness, and chemical accessibility, we propose that phenyl rings are promising components in mechanical molecular devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, 606-8502 Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitaguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, 606-8502 Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Habuka
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, 606-8502 Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okuyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, 606-8502 Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hatta
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, 606-8502 Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aruga
authors.affiliation: Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), 20018 San Sebastián, Spain ; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013 Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frederiksen
authors.affiliation: School of Computer Science, Physics and Mathematics, Linnaeus University, 391 82 Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paulsson
authors.affiliation: Division of Nano and New Functional Materials Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, 930-8555 Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ueba
keywords: density functional theory; phenyl rings; quantum transport simulations; scanning tunneling microscopy; single-molecule switches