US Patent 11063227 Electronic switching element

An electronic switching element is described having, in sequence, a first electrode, a molecular layer bonded to a substrate, and a second electrode. The molecular layer contains compounds of formula I, R1-(A1-Z1)r—B1—(Z2-A2)s-Sp-G, wherein A1, A2, B1, Z1, Z2, Sp, G, r, and s are as defined herein, in which a mesogenic radical is bonded to the substrate via a spacer group, Sp, by means of an anchor group, G. The switching element is suitable for production of components that can operate as a memristive device for digital information storage.