Effect of metal-molecule contact roughness on electronic transport: bacteriorhodopsin-based, metal-insulator-metal planar junctions

Molecular interfaces for plasmonic hot electron photovoltaics

The use of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) to improve and tailor the photovoltaic performance of plasmonic hot-electron Schottky solar cells is presented. SAMs allow the simultaneous control of open-circuit voltage, hot-electron injection and short-circuit current. To that end, a plurality of molecule structural parameters can be adjusted: SAM molecule's length can be adjusted to control plasmonic hot electron injection. Modifying SAMs dipole moment allows for a precise tuning of the open-circuit voltage. The functionalization of the SAM can also be selected to modify short-circuit current. This allows the simultaneous achievement of high open-circuit voltages (0.56 V) and fill-factors (0.58), IPCE above 5% at the plasmon resonance and maximum power-conversion efficiencies of 0.11%, record for this class of devices.

Nanoscale electron transport and photodynamics enhancement in lipid-depleted bacteriorhodopsin monomers

Potential future use of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) as a solid-state electron transport (ETp) material requires the highest possible active protein concentration. To that end we prepared stable monolayers of protein-enriched bR on a conducting HOPG substrate by lipid depletion of the native bR. The ETp properties of this construct were then investigated using conducting probe atomic force microscopy at low bias, both in the ground dark state and in the M-like intermediate configuration, formed upon excitation by green light. Photoconductance modulation was observed upon green and blue light excitation, demonstrating the potential of these monolayers as optoelectronic building blocks. To correlate protein structural changes with the observed behavior, measurements were made as a function of pressure under the AFM tip, as well as humidity. The junction conductance is reversible under pressure changes up to ∼300 MPa, but above this pressure the conductance drops irreversibly. ETp efficiency is enhanced significantly at >60% relative humidity, without changing the relative photoactivity significantly. These observations are ascribed to changes in protein conformation and flexibility and suggest that improved electron transport pathways can be generated through formation of a hydrogen-bonding network.

A novel method for investigating electrical breakdown enhancement by nm-sized features

Electrical transport studies across nm-thick dielectric films can be complicated, and datasets compromised, by local electrical breakdown enhanced by nm-sized features. To avoid this problem we need to know the minimal voltage that causes the enhanced electrical breakdown, a task that usually requires numerous measurements and simulation of which is not trivial. Here we describe and use a model system, using a "floating" gold pad to contact Au nanoparticles, NPs, to simultaneously measure numerous junctions with high aspect ratio NP contacts, with a dielectric film, thus revealing the lowest electrical breakdown voltage of a specific dielectric-nanocontact combination. For a 48 ± 1.5 Å SiO(2) layer and a ∼7 Å monolayer of organic molecules (to link the Au NPs) we show how the breakdown voltage decreases from 4.5 ± 0.4 V for a flat contact, to 2.4 ± 0.4 V if 5 nm Au NPs are introduced on the surface. The fact that larger Au NPs on the surface do not necessarily result in significantly higher breakdown voltages illustrates the need for combining experiments with model calculations. This combination shows two opposite effects of increasing the particle size, i.e., increase in defect density in the insulator and decrease in electric field strength. Understanding the process then explains why these systems are vulnerable to electrical breakdown as a result of spikes in regular electrical grids. Finally we use XPS-based chemically resolved electrical measurements to confirm that breakdown occurs indeed right below the nm-sized features.

Molecules on si: electronics with chemistry

Basic scientific interest in using a semiconducting electrode in molecule-based electronics arises from the rich electrostatic landscape presented by semiconductor interfaces. Technological interest rests on the promise that combining existing semiconductor (primarily Si) electronics with (mostly organic) molecules will result in a whole that is larger than the sum of its parts. Such a hybrid approach appears presently particularly relevant for sensors and photovoltaics. Semiconductors, especially Si, present an important experimental test-bed for assessing electronic transport behavior of molecules, because they allow varying the critical interface energetics without, to a first approximation, altering the interfacial chemistry. To investigate semiconductor-molecule electronics we need reproducible, high-yield preparations of samples that allow reliable and reproducible data collection. Only in that way can we explore how the molecule/electrode interfaces affect or even dictate charge transport, which may then provide a basis for models with predictive power.To consider these issues and questions we will, in this Progress Report, review junctions based on direct bonding of molecules to oxide-free Si.describe the possible charge transport mechanisms across such interfaces and evaluate in how far they can be quantified.investigate to what extent imperfections in the monolayer are important for transport across the monolayer.revisit the concept of energy levels in such hybrid systems.