Toggling bistable atoms via mechanical switching of bond angle

We reversibly switch the state of a bistable atom by direct mechanical manipulation of bond angle using a dynamic force microscope. Individual buckled dimers at the Si(100) surface are flipped via the formation of a single covalent bond, actuating the smallest conceivable in-plane toggle switch (two...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 106; no. 13; p. 136101
Main Authors Sweetman, Adam, Jarvis, Sam, Danza, Rosanna, Bamidele, Joseph, Gangopadhyay, Subhashis, Shaw, Gordon A, Kantorovich, Lev, Moriarty, Philip
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.04.2011
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Summary:We reversibly switch the state of a bistable atom by direct mechanical manipulation of bond angle using a dynamic force microscope. Individual buckled dimers at the Si(100) surface are flipped via the formation of a single covalent bond, actuating the smallest conceivable in-plane toggle switch (two atoms) via chemical force alone. The response of a given dimer to a flip event depends critically on both the local and nonlocal environment of the target atom-an important consideration for future atomic scale fabrication strategies.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.136101