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Ultraflat Au nanoplates as a new building block for molecular electronics
Wooseok Jeong1, Miyeon Lee, Hyunsoo Lee
1Center for Nanomaterials and Chemical Reactions, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 305-701, Korea. Graduate School of EEWS, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 305-701, Korea.
Nanotechnology
|April 19, 2016
Summary
We studied charge transport in organic monolayers on gold nanoplates using conductive probe atomic force microscopy. The results show well-ordered hexadecanethiol monolayers with properties suitable for molecular electronics.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) are crucial for molecular electronics.
- Gold nanostructures offer unique platforms for studying SAM properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the charge transport properties of hexadecanethiol (HDT) SAMs on gold (Au) nanoplates.
- To assess the potential of these SAMs as building blocks for molecular electronic devices.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of atomically flat Au nanoplates with (111) surfaces via chemical vapor transport.
- Formation of HDT SAMs on Au nanoplates.
- Characterization using conductive probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM) for imaging, friction, adhesion, and electrical measurements (I-V characteristics, current vs. load).
Main Results:
- Atomic-scale imaging revealed a well-ordered (√3 x √3) R30° molecular structure of HDT on Au nanoplates.
- Reduced friction and adhesion forces were observed for HDT SAMs on Au nanoplates compared to Si substrates.
- A tunneling decay constant (β) of 0.57 Å⁻¹ was obtained, consistent with a two-pathway model (βtb = 0.99 Å⁻¹, βts = 1.36 Å⁻¹).
Conclusions:
- HDT SAMs on Au nanoplates exhibit well-ordered structures and lubricating properties.
- Charge transport characteristics are comparable to those on Au (111) films.
- SAMs on nanoplates represent a promising new building block for molecular electronics.
