Tethered Molecules Act as Light-Driven Reversible Nanoswitches (IMAGE)

Penn State

Tethered Molecules Act as Light-Driven Reversible Nanoswitches

Caption

Illustration of the light-activated switch made by the Paul Weiss lab at Penn State. A bridge within the azobenzene molecule, made by two double-bonded nitrogen atoms, each also bound to a benzene ring, reconfigures when the molecule absorbs light. The two benzene rings move to the same side of the molecule (cis configuration) when exposed to ultraviolet light, and to opposite sides (trans configuration) when exposed to visible light.

Credit

Paul Weiss lab, Penn State

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