Single-Electron Charging Effects in Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Nanomembrane-Based Junctions

Autor(es)

de Oliveira, Rafael Furlan ^[1] ; Merces, Leandro ^{[2, 1]} ; Marques, Felipe ^{[1, 3]} ; Teixeira-Neto, Erico ^[1] ; Starnini de Camargo, Davi Henrique ^{[1, 4]} ; Bof Bufon, Carlos Cesar ^{[2, 1, 5]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Brazilian Ctr Res Energy & Mat CNPEM, Brazilian Nanotechnol Natl Lab LNNano, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Phys Gleb Wataghin IFGW, BR-13083859 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Mat Engn, BR-13568250 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[4] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Postgrad Program Mat Sci & Technol POSMAT, BR-17033360 Bauru, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Chem IQ, Dept Phys Chem, BR-13084862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Journal of Physical Chemistry C; v. 122, n. 23, p. 12131-12139, JUN 14 2018.
• Citações Web of Science: 4

Resumo

The controllable transfer of a single electron in devices (SEDs) is one of the viable trends for a new generation of technology. However, novel applications demand innovative strategies to fabricate and evaluate SEDs. Here, we report a hybrid organic/inorganic SED that combines an ensemble of physisorbed, semiconducting molecular layers (SMLs) and Au nanoclusters embedded in the transport channel by in situ, field-induced metal migration. The SED is fabricated using an integrative platform based on rolled-up nanomembranes (rNMs) to connect ultrathin SMLs from the top, forming large-area tunnel junctions. The combination of high electric fields (1-4 MV/cm), electrode point contacts, low temperatures (10 K), and ultrathin molecular layers (<10 nm) lead to field-induced migration of Au electrode nanoparticles inward the SML of the junction channel. This phenomenon can be either observed in the as-prepared rNM junctions or intentionally induced by the application of high electric fields (>1 MV/cm). The propelled electrode particles become trapped in the soft molecular material, acting as Coulomb islands positioned in between a double-barrier tunnel junction. As a result, the hybrid organic/inorganic rNM junctions present single-charge effects, namely Coulomb blockade and Coulomb staircase. Such an in situ, field-induced metal migration process opens possibilities to create novel and complex SEDs by using different molecular materials. From another perspective, the reported metal diffusion in such nanoscale junctions deserves attention as it can occasionally mask molecule dependent responses. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 14/25979-2 - Fabricação e caracterização de dispositivos e sistemas baseados em nanomembranas híbridas
• Beneficiário: Carlos César Bof Bufon
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovens Pesquisadores