AVS 51st International Symposium
    Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Friday Sessions
       Session NS-FrM

Paper NS-FrM10
Elucidation of the Electronic Properties of Immobilized Alkanethiolate-Stabilized Gold Clusters and Nanoparticles Using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

Friday, November 19, 2004, 11:20 am, Room 213D

Session: Nanometer-scale Structures
Presenter: R.K. Smith, The Pennsylvania State University
Authors: P.S. Weiss, The Pennsylvania State University
R.K. Smith, The Pennsylvania State University
S.U. Nanayakkara, The Pennsylvania State University
B.A. Mantooth, The Pennsylvania State University
G. Woehrle, The Pennsylvania State University
J.E. Hutchinson, University of Oregon
Correspondent: Click to Email
The single electron transport properties of metal nanoparticles have led to great interest in their potential integration into nanoscale electronics. Here, we discuss and compare the electronic characteristics of isolated, solution-derived, and ligand-stabilized gold clusters (Au@sub 11@L@sub 10@) and nanoparticles (Au@sub 101@L@sub 43@), taken in both cryogenic (4 K, UHV) and ambient conditions using scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. The clusters and particles (d@sub CORE@ = 0.8 nm and 1.5 ± 0.5 nm, respectively) are immobilized on alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayers with inserted dithiol molecules. We thoroughly characterize the self-assembled monolayer surface to which the nanostructures are attached with both local probes and ensemble measurements. At low temperature, the Au@sub 11@ clusters demonstrate Coulomb blockade behavior, with zero-conductance gaps resulting from quantum size effects.