Electromechanical switch based on Mo₆S₆ nanowires

We investigate the structural, electronic, and transport properties of mechanically deformed Mo₆S₆ nanowires using a density-functional based tight binding method extended with a Green's functions formalism. We present two interesting results: first, the properties of the wire are not affected by bending, and second, a metal-insulator transition occurs when the wire is twisted. This indicates that molybdenum sulfide nanowires can be used as a nanocable to flexibly transfer information between electromechanical switches, which can be also constructed from the same wires. Hence, our results suggest the Mo₆S₆ nanowires as unique building blocks for future nanodevices.