Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Atomic Structure

Atomic Structure

Atomic Mass

Atomic Mass

Atoms — and the protons, neutrons, and electrons that compose them — are extremely small. For example, a carbon atom weighs less than 2 × 10−23 g. When describing the properties of tiny objects such as atoms, we use appropriately small units of measure, such as the atomic mass unit (amu). The amu was originally defined based on hydrogen, the lightest element, then later in terms of oxygen. Since 1961, it has been defined with regard to the most abundant isotope of carbon, atoms of which...

Atomic Orbitals

Atomic Orbitals

An atomic orbital represents the three-dimensional regions in an atom where an electron has the highest probability to reside. The radial distribution function indicates the total probability of finding an electron within the thin shell at a distance r from the nucleus. The atomic orbitals have distinct shapes which are determined by l, the angular momentum quantum number. The orbitals are often drawn with a boundary surface, enclosing densest regions of the cloud.

pH Scale

pH Scale

Hydronium and hydroxide ions are present both in pure water and in all aqueous solutions, and their concentrations are inversely proportional as determined by the ion product of water (Kw). The concentrations of these ions in a solution are often critical determinants of the solution’s properties and the chemical behaviors of its other solutes. Two different solutions can differ in their hydronium or hydroxide ion concentrations by a million, billion, or even trillion times. A common means of...

Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals I

Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals I

The mathematical expression known as the wave function, ψ, contains information about each orbital and the wavelike properties of electrons in an isolated atom. When atoms are bound together in a molecule, the wave functions combine to produce new mathematical descriptions that have different shapes. This process of combining the wave functions for atomic orbitals is called hybridization and is mathematically accomplished by the linear combination of atomic orbitals. The new orbitals that...

The Energies of Atomic Orbitals

The Energies of Atomic Orbitals

In an atom, the negatively charged electrons are attracted to the positively charged nucleus. In a multielectron atom, electron-electron repulsions are also observed. The attractive and repulsive forces are dependent on the distance between the particles, as well as the sign and magnitude of the charges on the individual particles. When the charges on the particles are opposite, they attract each other. If both particles have the same charge, they repel each other.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Inexpensive Hydrogen Storage: Propylene to Propane using Plasmonic Photocatalysis.

Nano letters·2026

Same author

Ambient to Cryogenic High-Frequency Response of Zero-Bias Graphene Photodetectors.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2026

Same author

Optical Fourier Surfaces for Integrated Photonics.

ACS nano·2026

Same author

Realization of a chiral photonic-crystal cavity with broken time-reversal symmetry.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Ultra-Precise Dispensing for Rapid and Flexible Through-Silicon Via Filling.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Neural network nonlinear mitigation and coherent combining to improve the SNR of free-space optical communication systems.

Optics express·2026

Same journal

Formation of Bimetallic Nanoparticles via Exsolution Using a Reducible Metal Oxide Capping Layer.

ACS nano·2026

Same journal

Cold-Driven Thermoelectric Patch for Postoperative Tumor Control.

ACS nano·2026

Same journal

Chemically Fueled Interfacial Supramolecular Polymerization.

ACS nano·2026

Same journal

Tactile Neuromorphic Ion-Gated Vertical Transistor Displays Enabling Dual-Output Reservoir Computing.

ACS nano·2026

Same journal

In Situ Oxygen Shuttling within a Bilayer Electrified Membrane Enables Aeration-Free Electro-Fenton Water Purification.

ACS nano·2026

Same journal

Single Atoms as Growth Directors: From Graphene Edges to Atomically Precise Interfaces in 2D Materials.

ACS nano·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Published on: September 17, 2017

Atomic Scale Photodetection Enabled by a Memristive Junction.

Alexandros Emboras, Alessandro Alabastri, Fabian Ducry

|June 26, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers demonstrate an optically controlled atomic switch. This device uses light to relocate atoms, enabling atomic photodetection and functioning as an optical memristor, offering an alternative to traditional photodetectors.

Keywords:

ab initio calculation atomic contacts local oxidation memristor photodetection quantum plasmonics silicon photonics surface plasmons

More Related Videos

Atomically Traceable Nanostructure Fabrication

Atomically Traceable Nanostructure Fabrication

Published on: July 17, 2015

Measuring Neuromuscular Junction Functionality

Measuring Neuromuscular Junction Functionality

Published on: August 6, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Published on: September 17, 2017

Atomically Traceable Nanostructure Fabrication

Atomically Traceable Nanostructure Fabrication

Published on: July 17, 2015

Measuring Neuromuscular Junction Functionality

Measuring Neuromuscular Junction Functionality

Published on: August 6, 2017

Area of Science:

Condensed Matter Physics
Nanotechnology
Optoelectronics

Background:

The fundamental limit of CMOS scaling necessitates novel approaches for electronic control.
Atomic-scale manipulation offers potential for next-generation electronic devices.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate an optically controlled electronic switch based on atomic relocation.
To explore the potential of combined atomic-scale electronics and photonics.

Main Methods:

Development of a hybrid electronics and photonics platform.
Experimental and simulation-based investigation of atomic relocation dynamics.
Characterization of optically induced electronic and memory effects.

Main Results:

Reversible relocation of a few atoms using combined electrical, optical, and thermal forces.
Atomic photodetection with a 70 dB extinction ratio and 10 pA OFF-state current at room temperature.
Observation of an optically induced hysteretic current, functioning as an optical memristor.
Successful testing of the photodetector with real optical data at 0.5 Gbit/s, showing durability.

Conclusions:

Atomic-scale optoelectronic devices are feasible alternatives to traditional photodetectors.
Optical control of atomic relocation enables novel functionalities like switching and memory.
This work pushes the boundaries of miniaturization in electronics and photonics.