A Quinone Based Single-Molecule Switch as Building Block for Molecular Electronics

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new quinone-based single-molecule switch capable of reversible conformational changes and electrical conductivity modulation, potentially serving as a fundamental component in molecular electronic circuits.

Contribution

It introduces a family of quinone-based molecules that can switch states without metal surfaces, expanding the potential for molecular electronic devices.

Findings

Molecules with two conformations of similar energy and different conductivities can be designed.

External electric fields can switch the molecule between conformations.

The proposed molecules are suitable for integration into molecular circuits.

Abstract

Azophenine has previously been identified as a controllable molecular switch when deposited on a Cu(110) surface, where it can be in two symmetry-equivalent states. Each of the two states can be set as well as read by means of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). We propose a family of molecules based on the same quinone core, which show similar switching behavior without a supporting metal surface. Such a molecule could be an element in a molecular circuit or computer. Using the example of a simple hypothetical molecule, we show that it is possible to create molecules that show the necessary properties: two conformations with similar energy but different electric conductivity, and the possibility to switch between those by applying an external electric field.