DETECTION OF MOLECULAR SWITCHING IN SINGLE MONOLAYERS BY MAXWELL-DISPLACEMENT-CURRENT-MEASURING TECHNIQUE

Molecular switching in mixed monolayer surface was investigated by mea ns of Maxwell-displacement-current measurement. The condensation of pu re azobenzene monolayers was loosened by the introduction of phospholi pids into the monolayers, and the molecular aggregation in pure azoben zene monolayers was also weakened. As a result, transient displacement -current pulses were generated across the mixed monolayers in the enti re range of molecular area due to the photoisomerization of azobenzene by alternating irradiation of ultraviolet and visible light.