---
OA_place: repository
OA_type: green
_id: '18031'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: '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.'
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: letter_note
arxiv: 1
author:
- first_name: Su Ying
  full_name: Quek, Su Ying
  last_name: Quek
- first_name: Maria
  full_name: Kamenetska, Maria
  last_name: Kamenetska
- first_name: Michael L.
  full_name: Steigerwald, Michael L.
  last_name: Steigerwald
- first_name: Hyoung Joon
  full_name: Choi, Hyoung Joon
  last_name: Choi
- first_name: Steven G.
  full_name: Louie, Steven G.
  last_name: Louie
- first_name: Mark S.
  full_name: Hybertsen, Mark S.
  last_name: Hybertsen
- first_name: J. B.
  full_name: Neaton, J. B.
  last_name: Neaton
- first_name: Latha
  full_name: Venkataraman, Latha
  id: 9ebb78a5-cc0d-11ee-8322-fae086a32caf
  last_name: Venkataraman
  orcid: 0000-0002-6957-6089
citation:
  ama: 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>
  apa: 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>
  chicago: 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>.
  ieee: 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.
  ista: 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.
  mla: 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>.
  short: 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.
date_created: 2024-09-09T13:53:36Z
date_published: 2009-04-01T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2025-01-03T10:42:35Z
day: '01'
doi: 10.1038/nnano.2009.10
extern: '1'
external_id:
  arxiv:
  - '0901.1139'
  pmid:
  - '19350032'
intvolume: '         4'
issue: '4'
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
  url: https://arxiv.org/abs/0901.1139
month: '04'
oa: 1
oa_version: Preprint
page: 230-234
pmid: 1
publication: Nature Nanotechnology
publication_identifier:
  eissn:
  - 1748-3395
  issn:
  - 1748-3387
publication_status: published
publisher: Springer Nature
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: Mechanically controlled binary conductance switching of a single-molecule junction
type: journal_article
user_id: 2DF688A6-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
volume: 4
year: '2009'
...