Issue 42, 2017, Issue in Progress

Self-formed nanogap junctions for electronic detection and characterization of molecules and quantum dots

Abstract

Fabrication of self-forming nanojunction devices is demonstrated using positioning of nanofloret-like building blocks that serve as self-assembled electrodes. A main feature of the device is a self-formed nanogap bridging between the nanofloret (NF) hybrid nanostructures (HNS) and a macroscopic counter-electrode. When nanostructures are introduced to the device they provide facile bridging across the nanostructure. This strategy is used to demonstrate electronic measurements across molecules and nanoparticles. Connecting the NF nanojunction to the micro-, and macro-scales is achieved by applying standard, robust, optical lithography. In addition, the devices are operable at ambient conditions and in solvent environments, where introducing molecules to the device results in a prominent change in the conductance characteristics. Furthermore, introduction of quantum dots results in the mapping of their band structure at ambient conditions. Our results provide a proof-of-concept of large scale self-forming nanogap device platform realized using simple fabrication tools. Such a technology can be used for molecular detectors, as a potential building block for molecular electronics, or as a platform for fundamental research.

Graphical abstract: Self-formed nanogap junctions for electronic detection and characterization of molecules and quantum dots

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Apr 2017
Accepted
05 May 2017
First published
15 May 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Adv., 2017,7, 25861-25866

Self-formed nanogap junctions for electronic detection and characterization of molecules and quantum dots

A. Ziv, A. Tzaguy, O. Hazut, S. Yochelis, R. Yerushalmi and Y. Paltiel, RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 25861 DOI: 10.1039/C7RA04600F

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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