Patent ID: 7910921

Claim:
A molecular diode switch comprising: a compound having the following structure: wherein: “EWG” is selected from the group consisting of —C(═O)H, —C(═O)R 3 , —C(═O)OR 3 , —C(═O)OH, —CN, —N═O, —NO 2 , —N═N—, CH═NR 3 , —CR 3 ═NR 4 , —C═C(CN) 2 , —C═C(COR 3 ) 2 , —C═C(CO 2 R 3 ) 2 , —C═C(COR 3 )CO 2 R 4 , —SO 2 OH, —SO 2 OR 3 , —S(═O)—R 3 , —SO 2 R 3 , —BH 2 , —BHR 3 , —BR 3 R 4 , —PO 3 H 2 , and —PO 3 R 3 R 4 , wherein R 3 and R 4 are substituents independently selected from linear alkyl, branched alkyl, cyclic alkyl, and an aromatic ring system, and wherein the alkyl substituents are substituted or unsubstituted, “EDG” is selected from a group consisting of —O − , —OH, —OR 1 , —NH − , —NH 2 , —NHR 1 , —NR 1 R 2 , —PHR 1 , —PR 1 R 2 , —S − , —SH, —SR 1 , F, Cl, Br, and I, wherein R 1 and R 2 are substituents independently selected from linear alkyl, branched alkyl, cyclic alkyl, and an aromatic ring system, and wherein the alkyl substituents are substituted or unsubstituted, X 1 and X 2 are independently selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —OH, —SH, —NH 2 ; and substituted alkyl groups, G 1 -G 2 and G 3 -G 4 are independently selected from a group consisting of —CH═CH—, —CH═CR 5 —, —CR 5 ═CR 6 —, —CH 2 C(═O)—, —CR 5 HC(═O)—, —CC—, —N═N—, —N═CH—, —NH—CO—, —N═C(NH 2 )—, —N═C(SH)—, —NCS—, —NH—O— and —NHNH—, wherein R 5 and R 6 are substituents independently selected from linear alkyl, branched alkyl, cyclic alkyl, and an aromatic ring system, and wherein the alkyl substituents are substituted or unsubstituted, and Z is selected from a group of atomic units consisting of —CH═, —N═, —S—, —O—, and —P═; and two electrodes in operable contact with the compound such that EWG is proximal or connected to one electrode and EDG is proximal or connected to another electrode.