Controlled Orientation of Individual Molecules by Electrode Potentials

Information storage flips molecules out: The orientation of individual molecules-vertically or horizontally on a Cu(111) surface-can be controlled in an electrolyte solution by application of an electrode potential. The transition is completely potential dependent, reversible and stable; such are the minimum requirements for computer memory devices. STM images show two orientations of an adlayer of 2,2'-bipyridine.