Active Molecular Junctions with Sub-Nanometer Tunability for Reconfigurable Nanosystems

Controlled and reversible mechanical reconfiguration is core to embedding intelligent and adaptive performance within devices. Achieving such tunability at the nanoscale is a fundamental challenge. As dimensions are reduced to the few nanometers, surface adhesive forces become dominant causing instability and irreversible collapse in mechanically mobile structures. We present a platform in which mechanically reconfigurable molecular layers with engineered mechanical properties are used as tunable interconnects between neighboring surfaces. In this design, molecular layers serve as nanoscale springs to balance out the surface adhesive forces, enabling a controlled and reversible reconfiguration. Utilizing this hybrid organic-inorganic platform, which can be stimulated electrostatically or thermally, we demonstrate sub-10 nm active structures with < 1 nm precision in tuning. With these tunable building blocks, we achieve active modulation of optical and electrical responses which we further use to demonstrate applications in reconfigurable nanoscale devices and active surfaces.