Negative differential resistance and stable conductance switching behaviors of salicylideneaniline molecular devices sandwiched between armchair graphene nanoribbon electrodes

Abstract

By applying nonequilibrium Green's functions in combination with the density-functional theory, we investigate the electron transport properties of the salicylideneaniline molecule sandwiched between two armchair graphene nanoribbon (AGNR) electrodes. It shows that the width of the AGNR electrodes plays a significant role in the transport properties of the salicylideneaniline molecular junctions. The current–voltage characteristics of the salicylideneaniline molecule sandwiched between 8AGNR electrodes can perform a stable conductance switching behavior at the bias region [1.2 V, 1.6 V] when the molecule translates between the trans-enol form and the trans-keto form. When the electrodes change to 7AGNR, a remarkable negative differential resistance behavior can be found in the salicylideneaniline molecular device at the trans-keto form. That means the salicylideneaniline molecule can perform different functions when it connects to the different AGNR electrodes.