AVS 53rd International Symposium
    Applied Surface Science Monday Sessions
       Session AS+BI+NS+NM-MoM

Paper AS+BI+NS+NM-MoM12
Nanowires and Nanodevices via Assembly of Clusters

Monday, November 13, 2006, 11:40 am, Room 2005

Session: Organic Surface Modification and Nanoscale Chemical Patterning
Presenter: S.A. Brown, Nano Cluster Devices Ltd, New Zealand
Correspondent: Click to Email
We report the achievement of contacted electronic devices, self-assembled from atomic nanoclusters. Features of this technology, which overcomes the difficulties in the assembly of building blocks inherent to many bottom-up approaches to nanotechnology, include: Interchangeable cluster sources so as to have available a wide variety of cluster materials in a useful size range, allowing exploitation of novel structures and properties. Self-assembly methods which avoid time consuming positioning of building blocks. Use of lithographic processes which are compatible with both cluster deposition technology and standard microelectronics fabrication protocols. Understanding of basic physical assembly processes in order to predict and control device formation, including availability of suitable computer simulations. In this paper we will review the assembly methods developed, which include directed assembly in silicon V-grooves and on polymer-patterned surfaces, as well as stencilling techniques. We will then focus on the application of these techniques to one class of devices which have been realised i.e. cluster-assembled hydrogen sensors. These sensors are realised by the deposition of Pd clusters on a substrate such that one or several conduction paths are formed between a pair of contacts. The sensing principle relies on the expansion of Pd clusters and the resulting change of conductance as a result of their absorption of hydrogen and we have demonstrated very high sensitivities.