Large Conductance Variations in a Mechanosensitive Single-Molecule Junction.

ABSTRACT: An appealing feature of molecular electronics is the possibility of inducing changes in the orbital structure through external stimuli. This can provide functionality on the single-molecule level that can be employed for sensing or switching purposes if the associated conductance changes are sizable upon application of the stimuli. Here, we show that the room-temperature conductance of a spring-like molecule can be mechanically controlled up to an order of magnitude by compressing or elongating it. Quantum-chemistry calculations indicate that the large conductance variations are the result of destructive quantum interference effects between the frontier orbitals that can be lifted by applying either compressive or tensile strain to the molecule. When periodically modulating the electrode s

SUBMITTER: Stefani D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6143316 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature