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Formation and Control of Ultrasharp Metal/Molecule Interfaces by Controlled Immobilization of Size‐Selected Metal Nanoclusters onto Organic Molecular Films
Author(s) -
Nakaya Masato,
Iwasa Takeshi,
Tsunoyama Hironori,
Eguchi Toyoaki,
Nakajima Atsushi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201302187
Subject(s) - nanoclusters , materials science , metal , molecule , monolayer , scanning tunneling microscope , nanotechnology , scanning electron microscope , chemical engineering , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , metallurgy , engineering
The formation of metallic layers on ultrathin molecular films via a well‐controlled interface is essential for constructing organic nanodevices composed of metal/molecule/metal sandwich junctions. The scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy studies demonstrate that an ultrasharp metal/molecule interface is realizable by depositing size‐selected Ag nanoclusters (Ag n ) from the gas phase on few‐layer films of C 60 molecules. It is also demonstrated that Ag n nanoclusters can be immobilized on monolayer films of oligothiophene molecules via C 60 molecules, although they three‐dimensionally aggregate on bare oligothiophene films. It is also shown that electrons and holes are injected into the topmost layer of C 60 films via the Ag n /C 60 interface. Moreover, the barrier height for carrier injection at the Ag n /C 60 interface can be modified depending on the size of Ag n nanoclusters and the kinetic energy during the deposition. The present results demonstrate that the controlled immobilization of metallic nanoclusters on molecular films can be used as a fabrication technology for metal/molecule/metal junctions.