The transduction of a conformational change into electrical switching is an attractive approach to performing electronic operations with molecular building blocks. Although there are a few examples in the literature of conductance switching behavior in molecular junctions, the switching mechanisms are controversial and in some cases thought to originate from unexpected sources such as molecule-electrode bond fluctuations or the reversible formation of metallic filaments through the molecular layers. Photochromic molecules such as azobenzenes and di-arylethenes are appealing candidate switches since they undergo well-characterized photoisomerizations. Very recently, electrical switching has been proved with these molecules using large-area contacts. In this report, we consider conductance switching at the single domain level in nanoscale junctions consisting of azobenzene-based molecules which switch from an extended trans to a compact cis form upon UV irradiation.
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