A Memristive Element Based on an Electrically Controlled Single-Molecule Reaction

The exponential proliferation of data during the information age has required the continuous exploration of novel storage paradigms, materials, and devices with increasing data density. As a step toward the ultimate limits in data density, the development of an electrically controllable single-molecule memristive element is reported. In this device, digital information is encoded through switching between two isomer states by applying a voltage signal to the molecular junction, and the information is read out by monitoring the electrical conductance of each isomer. The two states are cycled using an electrically controllable local-heating mechanism for the forward reaction and catalyzed by a single charge-transfer process for the reverse switching. This single-molecule device can be modulated in situ, is fully reversible, and does not display stochastic switching. The I–V curves of this single-molecule system also exhibit memristive character. These features suggest a new approach for the development of molecular switching systems and storage-class memories.