Optical and electrical properties of self-assembled, ordered gold nanocrystal/silica thin films prepared by sol-gel processing.

Journal Article · Sun May 01 00:00:00 EDT 2005 · Proposed for publication in Thin Solid Films.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2005.05.040· OSTI ID:972449

Yang, Kai ^[1]; Fan, Hongyou; Brinker, C Jeffrey; Malloy, Kevin J ^[1]; Sigmon, Thomas W ^[1]

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1. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM

Highly ordered gold nanocrystal (NC)/silica films are synthesized by self-assembly of water-soluble gold NC micelles and silica using a sol-gel spin coating technique. The optical properties are analyzed using ellipsometry and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Transmission and absorption spectra were measured for wavelengths ranging from 200 to 2000 nm. The absorption spectra show a strong surface plasmon absorption band at {approx}520 nm for all samples. Charge transport behavior of the films was examined using metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) and metal-insulator-metal (MIM) structures. MOS capacitor samples exhibit charge storage with discharge behavior dominated by electron transport within the gold NC arrays. Low temperature current-voltage measurements on MIM devices reveal electrical conduction with a thermal activation energy of {approx}90 meV. For temperatures less than 100 K, the I-V characteristics of the NC film exhibits a strong coulomb blockade effect, with a threshold voltage of {approx}0.5 V measured at 78 K.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 972449
• Report Number(s): SAND2005-3131J
• Journal Information: Proposed for publication in Thin Solid Films., Journal Name: Proposed for publication in Thin Solid Films.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
ABSORPTION
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
ACTIVATION ENERGY
CAPACITORS
CHARGE TRANSPORT
COATINGS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRONS
ELLIPSOMETRY
GOLD
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMONS
PROCESSING
SILICA
SPECTROSCOPY
SPIN
STORAGE
THIN FILMS
TRANSPORT
WAVELENGTHS