Light‐Powered Electrical Switch Based on Cargo‐Lifting Azobenzene Monolayers

We have liftoff! Tightly packed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of ultrarigid conjugated azobenzenes incorporated into a Hg-based junction undergo reversible photoisomerization (see picture). The current–voltage curves indicate that the junction operates as a current photoswitch as result of the forces expressed by the SAMs, which act as a light-powered cargo lifter. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2008/z705339_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.