화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Vol.107, No.45, 12378-12382, 2003
Reversibly altering electronic conduction through a single molecule by a chemical binding event
This letter presents experimental evidence that the electrical conductance of a single molecule can be altered by a chemical binding event. Self-assembled monolayers of electron donor tetramethyl xylyl dithiol (TMXYL) have been synthesized and chemically switched to a conducting state by reaction with an electron acceptor tetracyanoethylene (TCNE). Low bias conductance measurements obtained by scanning tunneling spectroscopy under ultrahigh vacuum conditions show a change from insulating to ohmic behavior as a result of the electron donor/acceptor interaction.