Molecular Monolayer Nonvolatile Memory with Tunable Molecules

An unforgettable monolayer: Dialkylthiolate-tethered metal complex self-assembled monolayers (see picture; thickness 3 nm) provide stable and reproducible molecular monolayer nonvolatile memory (MMNVM) characterized by its hysteretic current–voltage (I–V) properties and retention time for write–multiple read–erase–multiple read pulse cycles. This is the first known voltage-driven MMNVM using only a molecular monolayer.