Reversible On/Off Conductance Switching of Single Diarylethene Immobilized on a Silicon Surface

The chemical functionalization of hydrogen-terminated silicon(111) surfaces with photochromic diarylethene using an ethylene anchoring group was achieved. Conductive atomic force microscopy measurements showed the current changes on modified silicon electrodes caused by light-induced isomerization of the diarylethene between an open form and a closed form.