Azobenzenes as Light-Controlled Molecular Electronic Switches in Nanoscale Metal−Molecule−Metal Junctions

Mativetsky, Jeffrey M.; Pace, Giuseppina; Elbing, Mark; Rampi, Maria Anita; Mayor, Marcel; Samorı́, Paolo

doi:10.1021/ja8018093

Cited by 258 publications

(248 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…[3,6]. An additional alternative would be to incorporate switching molecules (for example, azobenzenes [51][52][53], rotaxanes [54,55], and other molecular switches [55][56][57][58]). Such hybrid percolating and molecular systems may allow additional and novel design parameters to be developed, and may well introduce more complex and interesting functionality.…”

Section: Other Memristive Elementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuromorphic behavior in percolating nanoparticle films

Fostner

Brown

2015

Phys. Rev. E

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We show that the complex connectivity of percolating networks of nanoparticles provides a natural solid-state system in which bottom-up assembly provides a route to realization of neuromorphic behavior. Below the percolation threshold the networks comprise groups of particles separated by tunnel gaps; an applied voltage causes atomic scale wires to form in the gaps, and we show that the avalanche of switching events that occurs is similar to potentiation in biological neural systems. We characterize the level of potentiation in the percolating system as a function of the surface coverage of nanoparticles and other experimentally relevant variables, and compare our results with those from biological systems. The complex percolating structure and the electric field driven switching mechanism provide several potential advantages in comparison to previously reported solid-state neuromorphic systems.

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Section: Other Memristive Elementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuromorphic behavior in percolating nanoparticle films

Fostner

Brown

2015

Phys. Rev. E

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“…The trans-isomer in the low-conducting state transforms into a cis-isomer in the highconducting state, a process that involves short-distance tunnelling transport (h14h2 in Fig. 4b) in cis-aryl azobenzene molecular junctions 23 . The reversible photo-induced conformational changes of the aryl azobenzene monolayer were repeatedly plotted as the change in current density with respect to the switching number (Fig.…”

Section: Molecular Monolayer With Two-terminal Graphene Electrodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photo-switchable molecular monolayer anchored between highly transparent and flexible graphene electrodes

et al. 2013

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A molecular ultra-thin film (for example, a molecular monolayer) with graphene electrodes would allow for the realization of superior stable, transparent and flexible electronics. A realistic prospect regarding the use of graphene in two-terminal molecular electronic devices is to fabricate a chemically stable, optically transparent, mechanically flexible and molecularly compatible junction. Here we report on a novel photo-switchable molecular monolayer, one side chemically and the other side physically anchored between the two graphene electrodes. The photo-switchable organic molecules specified with an electrophilic group are chemically self-assembled into a monolayer on the graphene bottom electrode, while the other end is physically contacted to the graphene top electrode; this arrangement provides excellent stability for a highly transparent and flexible molecular monolayer device with a high device yield due to soft contacts at the top electrode interface. Thus, the transparent graphene electrodes allow stable molecular photo-switching due to photoinduced changes in the molecular conformational length.

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“…It has been shown by conducting atomic force microscopy and Hg drop that the resistance of the molecular junction (i.e., the tunneling barrier) is higher for the trans-AZO SAM (20,21). This is attributed to the decrease in thickness when the SAM switches to the cis form.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the last few years, we have extensively investigated the thiol-substituted azo-biphenyl (AZO, Fig. 1A) when chemisorbed on gold surfaces (19)(20)(21)(22). We demonstrated that such a SAM chemisorbed on the planar source and drain electrodes of an OFET can be used to modulate optically the charge injection at the metal-semiconductor interface because of the different tunneling barrier of the cis and trans SAMs (19).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Optically switchable organic field-effect transistors based on photoresponsive gold nanoparticles blended with poly(3-hexylthiophene)

Raimondo

Crivillers

Reinders

et al. 2012

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Interface tailoring represents a route for integrating complex functions in systems and materials. Although it is ubiquitous in biological systems-e.g., in membranes-synthetic attempts have not yet reached the same level of sophistication. Here, we report on the fabrication of an organic field-effect transistor featuring dualgate response. Alongside the electric control through the gate electrode, we incorporated photoresponsive nanostructures in the polymeric semiconductor via blending, thereby providing optical switching ability to the device. In particular, we mixed poly(3-hexylthiophene) with gold nanoparticles (AuNP) coated with a chemisorbed azobenzene-based self-assembled monolayer, acting as traps for the charges in the device. The light-induced isomerization between the trans and cis states of the azobenzene molecules coating the AuNP induces a variation of the tunneling barrier, which controls the efficiency of the charge trapping/detrapping process within the semiconducting film. Our approach offers unique solutions to digital commuting between optical and electric signals.O rganic field-effect transistors (OFETs) are basic building blocks for logic applications and for the development of electronic technologies based on soft matter (1-4). Currently, the greatest challenges in the field are the achievement of higher device performance and the development of devices featuring uncommon and multiple functionalities (5). In this regard, hybrid organic-inorganic materials are gaining much attention because, besides their easy processing, they can take advantage of the tunability of the chemical properties of the components, and thus of the material as a whole. Nanoparticles (NPs) of different materials (gold, silver, metal oxides, etc.) can be coated with selfassembled monolayers (SAMs) of a given molecular system, thereby providing them additional functions such as a specific surface energy or optoelectronic properties (6-8). These features can be optimized by achieving control over the packing of SAMs on the NPs (7). When NPs are integrated in a device, they can, for example, act as charge storage sites-i.e., trapping charges centers, allowing the system to act as a memory (9, 10).The incorporation of photochromic molecules into electronic devices to confer them a photoresponsive nature has been recently explored (11)(12)(13)(14). Among photochromic systems (15-18), azobenzene derivatives are known to undergo isomerization from trans to cis form, and vice versa, under illumination at a specific wavelength, as well as from cis to trans with temperature (15). In the last few years, we have extensively investigated the thiol-substituted azo-biphenyl (AZO, Fig. 1A) when chemisorbed on gold surfaces (19)(20)(21)(22). We demonstrated that such a SAM chemisorbed on the planar source and drain electrodes of an OFET can be used to modulate optically the charge injection at the metal-semiconductor interface because of the different tunneling barrier of the cis and trans SAMs (19). However, the observed light-modul...

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Azobenzenes as Light-Controlled Molecular Electronic Switches in Nanoscale Metal−Molecule−Metal Junctions

Cited by 258 publications

References 16 publications

Neuromorphic behavior in percolating nanoparticle films

Neuromorphic behavior in percolating nanoparticle films

Photo-switchable molecular monolayer anchored between highly transparent and flexible graphene electrodes

Optically switchable organic field-effect transistors based on photoresponsive gold nanoparticles blended with poly(3-hexylthiophene)

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