Molecules in action
(Top) Structures of the OPE molecules used in this study: PPB, NPPB, FNPPB, FNPPB-o, and FAPPB. (Middle) Amide-containing alkanethiol matrix molecules used in this study: 1ATC9 and R1ATC9. (Bottom) Schematic showing a hypothesized mechanism for the bias-dependent induced switching. (Bottom left) At negative sample bias, electrostatic repulsion between the positive charge of the STM tip and the positive dipole of the OPE molecule can cause the OPE to tilt into the off state, allowing for hydrogen bonding to occur between the substituent of the OPE (-X) and the amide groups of 1ATC9. (Bottom right) At positive sample bias, the electrostatic attraction between the negative tip and the positive dipole explains the preference for the on state. Credit: Lewis et al.