AVS 60th International Symposium and Exhibition
    Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Monday Sessions
       Session NS+BI+EM-MoM

Paper NS+BI+EM-MoM9
Exploiting Plasmon Induced Hot Electrons in Molecular Electronic Devices

Monday, October 28, 2013, 11:00 am, Room 203 B

Session: Nanophotonics and Plasmonics
Presenter: D.A. Bonnell, University of Pennsylvania
Authors: D. Conklin, University of Pennsylvania
S. nanayakkara, University of Pennsylvania
T.-H. Park, University of Pennsylvania
M. Lagadec, ETH Zürich, Switzerland
J. Stecher, Duke University
X. Chen, University of Pennsylvania
M. Therien, Duke University
D.A. Bonnell, University of Pennsylvania
Correspondent: Click to Email
Plasmonic nanostructures can induce a number of interesting responses in devices. Here we show that hot electrons can be extracted from plasmonic particles and directed into a molecular electronic device, which represents a new mechanism of transfer from light to electronic transport. To isolate this phenomenon from alternative and sometimes simultaneous mechanisms of plasmon-exciton interactions we designed a family of hybrid nanostructure devices consisting of Au nanoparticles and optoelectronically functional porphyin molecules that enable precise control of electronic and optical properties. Temperature and wavelength dependent transport measurements are analyzed in the context of optical absorption spectra of the molecules, the Au particle arrays and the devices. Enhanced photocurrent associated with exciton generation in the molecule is distinguished from enhancements due to plasmon interactions. Mechanisms of plasmon induced current are examined and it is found that hot electron generation can be distinguished from other possibilities.