Atomic-precision control of plasmon-induced single-molecule switching in metal–semiconductor nanojunction

https://phys.org/news/2024-08-team-method-molecule-photoswitching.html

"localized surface plasmons, light waves generated on nanoscale material surfaces, confine/ enhance electromagnetic fields... plasmon-resonant tip in low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope enables single organic molecule reversible lift-up/ drop-down on silicon surface... reversible switch rate precision tuned by tip position to 0.01 nm... photoswitching inhibited for molecule where 1 oxygen not bonding to silicon is substituted for nitrogen atom, so faster, smaller, more energy-efficient... sensors, LEDs, PV cells"