An electric field induced reversible single-molecule fluorescence switch

Chem Commun (Camb). 2015 Apr 30;51(34):7368-71. doi: 10.1039/c5cc00850f.

Abstract

We report that by applying an electric field to a single squaraine-derived rotaxane (SR) molecule on bare glass, the fluorescence can be completely quenched. The molecule undergoes a reversible fluorescence switch between a zero-field "on" state and a high-field "off" state, which is attributed to intramolecular electron transfer within the SR molecule.