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

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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.