article published yes Su Ying Quek author Maria Kamenetska author Michael L. Steigerwald author Hyoung Joon Choi author Steven G. Louie author Mark S. Hybertsen author J. B. Neaton author Latha Venkataraman author 9ebb78a5-cc0d-11ee-8322-fae086a32caf0000-0002-6957-6089 Molecular-scale components are expected to be central to the realization of nanoscale electronic devices1,2,3. Although molecular-scale switching has been reported in atomic quantum point contacts4,5,6, single-molecule junctions provide the additional flexibility of tuning the on/off conductance states through molecular design. To date, switching in single-molecule junctions has been attributed to changes in the conformation or charge state of the molecule7,8,9,10,11,12. Here, we demonstrate reversible binary switching in a single-molecule junction by mechanical control of the metal–molecule contact geometry. We show that 4,4'-bipyridine–gold single-molecule junctions can be reversibly switched between two conductance states through repeated junction elongation and compression. Using first-principles calculations, we attribute the different measured conductance states to distinct contact geometries at the flexible but stable nitrogen–gold bond: conductance is low when the N–Au bond is perpendicular to the conducting π-system, and high otherwise. This switching mechanism, inherent to the pyridine–gold link, could form the basis of a new class of mechanically activated single-molecule switches. Springer Nature2009 eng 1748-3387 1748-3395 0901.1139 1935003210.1038/nnano.2009.10 44230-234 yes Quek, Su Ying, Maria Kamenetska, Michael L. Steigerwald, Hyoung Joon Choi, Steven G. Louie, Mark S. Hybertsen, J. B. Neaton, and Latha Venkataraman. “Mechanically Controlled Binary Conductance Switching of a Single-Molecule Junction.” <i>Nature Nanotechnology</i>. Springer Nature, 2009. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2009.10">https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2009.10</a>. Quek SY, Kamenetska M, Steigerwald ML, Choi HJ, Louie SG, Hybertsen MS, Neaton JB, Venkataraman L. 2009. Mechanically controlled binary conductance switching of a single-molecule junction. Nature Nanotechnology. 4(4), 230–234. S.Y. Quek, M. Kamenetska, M.L. Steigerwald, H.J. Choi, S.G. Louie, M.S. Hybertsen, J.B. Neaton, L. Venkataraman, Nature Nanotechnology 4 (2009) 230–234. Quek, Su Ying, et al. “Mechanically Controlled Binary Conductance Switching of a Single-Molecule Junction.” <i>Nature Nanotechnology</i>, vol. 4, no. 4, Springer Nature, 2009, pp. 230–34, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2009.10">10.1038/nnano.2009.10</a>. S. Y. Quek <i>et al.</i>, “Mechanically controlled binary conductance switching of a single-molecule junction,” <i>Nature Nanotechnology</i>, vol. 4, no. 4. Springer Nature, pp. 230–234, 2009. Quek, S. Y., Kamenetska, M., Steigerwald, M. L., Choi, H. J., Louie, S. G., Hybertsen, M. S., … Venkataraman, L. (2009). Mechanically controlled binary conductance switching of a single-molecule junction. <i>Nature Nanotechnology</i>. Springer Nature. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2009.10">https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2009.10</a> Quek SY, Kamenetska M, Steigerwald ML, et al. Mechanically controlled binary conductance switching of a single-molecule junction. <i>Nature Nanotechnology</i>. 2009;4(4):230-234. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2009.10">10.1038/nnano.2009.10</a> 180312024-09-09T13:53:36Z2025-01-03T10:42:35Z