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Self-consistent theory of molecular switching

F. Pistolesi, Ya. M. Blanter, and Ivar Martin
Phys. Rev. B 78, 085127 – Published 25 August 2008

Abstract

We study the model of a molecular switch comprised of a molecule with a soft vibrational degree of freedom coupled to metallic leads. In the presence of strong electron-ion interaction, different charge states of the molecule correspond to substantially different ionic configurations, which can lead to very slow switching between energetically close configurations (Franck-Condon blockade). Application of transport voltage, however, can drive the molecule far out of thermal equilibrium and thus dramatically accelerate the switching. The tunneling electrons play the role of a heat bath with an effective temperature dependent on the applied transport voltage. Including the transport-induced “heating” self-consistently, we determine the stationary current-voltage characteristics of the device and the switching dynamics for symmetric and asymmetric devices. We also study the effects of an extra dissipative environment and demonstrate that it can lead to enhanced nonlinearities in the transport properties of the device and dramatically suppress the switching dynamics.

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  • Received 13 June 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.78.085127

©2008 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

F. Pistolesi

  • Laboratoire de Physique et Modélisation des Milieux Condensés, CNRS, Université Joseph Fourier, Boîte Postale 166, 38042 Grenoble, France

Ya. M. Blanter

  • Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands

Ivar Martin

  • Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544, USA

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Issue

Vol. 78, Iss. 8 — 15 August 2008

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