Enhanced charge transport across molecule-nanoparticle-molecule sandwiches

Zhou, P, Qiao, X ORCID: 0000-0001-7801-4603, Milan, DC, Higgins, SJ ORCID: 0000-0003-3518-9061, Vezzoli, A ORCID: 0000-0002-8059-0113 and Nichols, RJ ORCID: 0000-0002-1446-8275 (2023) Enhanced charge transport across molecule-nanoparticle-molecule sandwiches. PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS, 25 (10). pp. 7176-7183. ISSN 1463-9076, 1463-9084

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d2cp05525b

Abstract

The electrical properties of large area molecular devices consisting of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) sandwiched between a double layer of alkanedithiol linkers have been examined. These devices have been fabricated by a facile bottom-up assembly in which an alkanedithiol monolayer is first self-assembled on an underlying gold substrate followed by nanoparticle adsorption and then finally assembly of the top alkanedithiol layer. These devices are then sandwiched between the bottom gold substrates and a top eGaIn probe contact and current-voltage (<i>I</i>-<i>V</i>) curves recorded. Devices have been fabricated with 1,5-pentanedithiol, 1,6-hexanedithiol, 1,8-octanedithiol and 1,10-decanedithiol linkers. In all cases the electrical conductance of the double SAM junctions with GNPs is higher than the corresponding and much thinner single alkanedithiol SAM. Competing models for this enhanced conductance are discussed and it is suggested to have a topological origin arising from how the devices assemble or structure during the fabrication, which gives more efficient cross device electron transport pathways without the GNPs producing short circuits.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	3403 Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry, 40 Engineering, 34 Chemical Sciences, 4018 Nanotechnology, Bioengineering, Nanotechnology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Physical Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	23 Mar 2023 16:16
Last Modified:	22 Nov 2024 03:37
DOI:	10.1039/d2cp05525b
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CP05525B
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3169215