Nanoparticle Bridges for Studying Electrical Properties of Organic Molecules and Gas Sensor Applications

Molecules have high potential for novel applications as building blocks for electronic devices such as sensors due to the versatility of their electronic properties. Their use in devices offers a great potential for further miniaturization of electronic devices. We describe a method where nanoparticles functionalized with short-chain organic molecules are used to build a molecular electronics device (nanoMoED) sensor for studying electrical properties of organic molecules. We also report the application of such a nanoMoED for detecting environmental gases. Here we provide a detailed description of the nanoMoED fabrication process, nanoparticle synthesis and functionalization, the basics of the electrical measurements, and nanoMoED applications. The platform described here is capable of detecting electrical current flowing through just a few molecules. The versatility of such nanoMoEDs makes this platform suitable for a wide range of molecular electronics and molecular sensing applications.