Fig. 1: Molecular and interfacial structural changes in solution and in NEMS devices.
From: Controlling piezoresistance in single molecules through the isomerisation of bullvalenes
a Sigmatropic Cope rearrangements make bullvalene a fluxional molecule in solution. b Diaryl substituted (Ar = para (C6H4)‒SCH3) bullvalenes bind as bent isomers at short tip-tip distances in STMBJ experiments. c At specific tip extensions, bullvalene isomers with different conductances appear in equilibrium, allowing oscillating single-molecule reactions, occurring on the ms timescale, to be followed. d Tip retraction induces bullvalene isomerisation that controls conductance, manifesting piezoresistance. e Bullvalene isomerisation at short tip distances drives tip reconstruction. Blue colour in (b‒e) represents possible electron pathways.
