Kitaguchi Y, Habuka S, Okuyama H, Hatta S, Aruga T, Frederiksen T, Paulsson M, Ueba H. Controlled switching of single-molecule junctions by mechanical motion of a phenyl ring.
BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY 2015;
6:2088-95. [PMID:
26665080 PMCID:
PMC4660945 DOI:
10.3762/bjnano.6.213]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
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.
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