Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
We propose to utilize azobenzene as a nanomolecular switch which can be triggered by transmitting electrons above threshold biases. The effect is explained by an electron impact trans-cis conformational change of the isolated azobenzene molecules. The molecular electronic states of both isomers have been measured with spatially resolved scanning tunneling microscopy or spectroscopy, leading to suggested transition pathways of the electron-induced isomerization.
Choi et al. (2006) studied this question.