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An electrically actuated molecular toggle switch

Author

Listed:
  • Lukas Gerhard

    (Institut für Nanotechnologie, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Kevin Edelmann

    (Institut für Nanotechnologie, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
    Physikalisches Institut, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Jan Homberg

    (Institut für Nanotechnologie, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Michal Valášek

    (Institut für Nanotechnologie, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Safa G. Bahoosh

    (University of Konstanz)

  • Maya Lukas

    (Institut für Nanotechnologie, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Fabian Pauly

    (University of Konstanz)

  • Marcel Mayor

    (Institut für Nanotechnologie, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
    University of Basel
    Lehn Institute of Functional Materials (LIFM), Sun Yat-Sen University)

  • Wulf Wulfhekel

    (Institut für Nanotechnologie, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
    Physikalisches Institut, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Molecular electronics is considered a promising approach for future nanoelectronic devices. In order that molecular junctions can be used as electrical switches or even memory devices, they need to be actuated between two distinct conductance states in a controlled and reproducible manner by external stimuli. Here we present a tripodal platform with a cantilever arm and a nitrile group at its end that is lifted from the surface. The formation of a coordinative bond between the nitrile nitrogen and the gold tip of a scanning tunnelling microscope can be controlled by both electrical and mechanical means, and leads to a hysteretic switching of the conductance of the junction by more than two orders of magnitude. This toggle switch can be actuated with high reproducibility so that the forces involved in the mechanical deformation of the molecular cantilever can be determined precisely with scanning tunnelling microscopy.

Suggested Citation

  • Lukas Gerhard & Kevin Edelmann & Jan Homberg & Michal Valášek & Safa G. Bahoosh & Maya Lukas & Fabian Pauly & Marcel Mayor & Wulf Wulfhekel, 2017. "An electrically actuated molecular toggle switch," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms14672
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14672
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    Cited by:

    1. Vibhuti Rai & Nico Balzer & Gabriel Derenbach & Christof Holzer & Marcel Mayor & Wulf Wulfhekel & Lukas Gerhard & Michal Valášek, 2023. "Hot luminescence from single-molecule chromophores electrically and mechanically self-decoupled by tripodal scaffolds," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Youngwook Park & Ikutaro Hamada & Adnan Hammud & Takashi Kumagai & Martin Wolf & Akitoshi Shiotari, 2024. "Atomic-precision control of plasmon-induced single-molecule switching in a metal–semiconductor nanojunction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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