Electronic Transport Properties of an Anthraquinone-Based Molecular Switch with Carbon Nanotube Electrodes

Based on the nonequilibrium Green's function method and density functional theory calculations, we theoretically investigate the electronic transport properties of an anthraquinone-based molecular switch with carbon nanotube electrodes. The molecules that comprise the switch can convert between reduced hydroquinone (HQ) and oxidized anthraquinne (AQ) states via redox reactions. Our results show that the on-off ratio is increased one order of magnitude when compared to the case of gold electrodes. Moreover, an obvious negative differential resistance behavior at much low bias (0.07 V) is observed in the HQ form.