AI Article Synopsis
- Researchers showed that a nitric oxide (NO) molecule on a copper surface can function like a toggle switch that can be turned "ON" or "OFF" by applying a repulsive force or injecting electrons.
- The NO molecule can exist in three different positions: flat (ON), upright (OFF), and flat in the opposite direction (ON), changing based on the external forces applied.
- Through techniques like scanning tunneling microscopy and atomic force microscopy, they discovered that the upright configuration can be converted to the flat one using specific forces, which makes the NO molecule act as a sensor for detecting applied torques.
Article Abstract
We demonstrated that a nitric oxide (NO) molecule on Cu(110) acts as an "ON-OFF-ON toggle switch" that can be turned on and off by repulsive force and electron injection, respectively. On the surface, NO molecules exist in three configurations: flat along the [001] direction (ON), upright (OFF), and flat along [001[over ¯]] (ON). An NO-functionalized tip, which was characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy and inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy, can convert an upright NO adsorbate into a flat-lying NO. Atomic force microscopy and a simulation of the interactions between the NO molecules reveal that a repulsive force not aligned with the N-O bond provides the torque that detrudes the NO toggle; i.e., the upright NO adsorbate is tilted away from the tip. Therefore, the NO adsorbate behaves as a nonvolatile sensor for the detection of locally applied repulsive torque.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.116101 | DOI Listing |
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