Abstract
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
Original language | English |
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Article number | 082201 |
Pages (from-to) | - |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of physics: Condensed matter |
Volume | 24 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Keywords
- IR-84670
- METIS-286057