Voltage-driven changes in molecular dipoles yield negative differential resistance at room temperature.

Abstract

Junction function: Molecule-controlled devices based on metal–semiconductor junctions can exhibit negative differential resistance (NDR) at room temperature. The active component is a self-assembled monolayer of molecular dipoles (see schematic representation; X=CF3, CN, H, OMe). A systematic change in the dipole moment of these molecules results in a corresponding systematic change in the NDR effect, thus establishing for the first time molecularly tunable NDR.