Current versus temperature-induced switching in a single-molecule tunnel junction: 1,5 cyclooctadiene on Si(001).

Nacci, Christophe; Fölsch, Stefan; Zenichowski, Karl; Dokić, Jadranka; Klamroth, Tillmann; Saalfrank, Peter · Nano Lett · 2009

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

The biconformational switching of single cyclooctadiene molecules chemisorbed on a Si(001) surface was explored by quantum chemical and quantum dynamical calculations and low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy experiments. The calculations rationalize the experimentally observed switching driven by inelastic electron tunneling (IET) at 5 K. At higher temperatures, they predict a controllable crossover behavior between IET-driven and thermally activated switching, which is fully confirmed by experiment.