Light-Triggered Conductance Switching in Single-Molecule Dihydroazulene/Vinylheptafulvene Junctions

Samuel Lara-Avila, Andrey V. Danilov, Sergey E. Kubatkin, Søren Lindbæk Broman, Christian Richard Parker, Mogens Brøndsted Nielsen

43 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Derivatives of 1,1-dicyano-1,8a-dihydroazulene (DHA) undergo light-induced ring-opening to a corresponding vinylheptafulvene (VHF), which in turn is thermally reverted to DHA. Here we have fabricated single-molecule DHA/VHF junctions and measured light-triggered conductance switching of these junctions. The DHA/VHF system studied includes a substituent group at the seven-membered ring. Light-induced conversion of this DHA to VHF in the junction is supported by a reduced tunnelling gap in tunnelling density of states. In fact, the reduced tunnelling gap corresponds to the reduced HOMO-LUMO gap of VHF relative to that of DHA as measured by absorption spectroscopy and electrochemistry. For this comparison, electrochemical measurements were performed on both the parent DHA/VHF system and the functionalized system that was subject to transport measurements. In one junction, it was possible to switch back and forth between DHA and VHF three times, the forward reaction being induced by light and the back-reaction occurring after waiting a period of time.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of Physical Chemistry Part C: Nanomaterials and Interfaces
Vol/bind115
Sider (fra-til)18372-18377
ISSN1932-7447
StatusUdgivet - 22 sep. 2011

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