Molecular switching by proton-coupled electron transport drives giant negative differential resistance

Qian Zhang, Yulong Wang, Cameron Nickle, Ziyu Zhang, Andrea Leoncini, Dong Chen Qi, Kai Sotthewes, Alessandro Borrini, Harold J.W. Zandvliet, Enrique del Barco*, Damien Thompson*, Christian A. Nijhuis*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

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Abstract

To develop new types of dynamic molecular devices with atomic-scale control over electronic function, new types of molecular switches are needed with time-dependent switching probabilities. We report such a molecular switch based on proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reaction with giant hysteric negative differential resistance (NDR) with peak-to-valley ratios of 120 ± 6.6 and memory on/off ratios of (2.4 ± 0.6) × 103. The switching dynamics probabilities are modulated by bias voltage sweep rate and can also be controlled by pH and relative humidity, confirmed by kinetic isotope effect measurements. The demonstrated dynamical and environment-specific modulation of giant NDR and memory effects provide new opportunities for bioelectronics and artificial neural networks.

Original languageEnglish
Article number8300
JournalNature communications
Volume15
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024

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