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Li T, Bandari VK, Schmidt OG. Molecular Electronics: Creating and Bridging Molecular Junctions and Promoting Its Commercialization. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2209088. [PMID: 36512432 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202209088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Molecular electronics is driven by the dream of expanding Moore's law to the molecular level for next-generation electronics through incorporating individual or ensemble molecules into electronic circuits. For nearly 50 years, numerous efforts have been made to explore the intrinsic properties of molecules and develop diverse fascinating molecular electronic devices with the desired functionalities. The flourishing of molecular electronics is inseparable from the development of various elegant methodologies for creating nanogap electrodes and bridging the nanogap with molecules. This review first focuses on the techniques for making lateral and vertical nanogap electrodes by breaking, narrowing, and fixed modes, and highlights their capabilities, applications, merits, and shortcomings. After summarizing the approaches of growing single molecules or molecular layers on the electrodes, the methods of constructing a complete molecular circuit are comprehensively grouped into three categories: 1) directly bridging one-molecule-electrode component with another electrode, 2) physically bridging two-molecule-electrode components, and 3) chemically bridging two-molecule-electrode components. Finally, the current state of molecular circuit integration and commercialization is discussed and perspectives are provided, hoping to encourage the community to accelerate the realization of fully scalable molecular electronics for a new era of integrated microsystems and applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianming Li
- Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN), Chemnitz University of Technology, 09126, Chemnitz, Germany
- Material Systems for Nanoelectronics, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09111, Chemnitz, Germany
| | - Vineeth Kumar Bandari
- Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN), Chemnitz University of Technology, 09126, Chemnitz, Germany
- Material Systems for Nanoelectronics, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09111, Chemnitz, Germany
| | - Oliver G Schmidt
- Research Center for Materials, Architectures and Integration of Nanomembranes (MAIN), Chemnitz University of Technology, 09126, Chemnitz, Germany
- Material Systems for Nanoelectronics, Chemnitz University of Technology, 09111, Chemnitz, Germany
- Nanophysics, Dresden University of Technology, 01069, Dresden, Germany
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Eklöf-Österberg J, Löfgren J, Erhart P, Moth-Poulsen K. Understanding Interactions Driving the Template-Directed Self-Assembly of Colloidal Nanoparticles at Surfaces. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2020; 124:4660-4667. [PMID: 32140202 PMCID: PMC7050997 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.0c00710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Controlled deposition of colloidal nanoparticles using self-assembly is a promising technique for, for example, manufacturing of miniaturized electronics, and it bridges the gap between top-down and bottom-up methods. However, selecting materials and geometry of the target surface for optimal deposition results presents a significant challenge. Here, we describe a predictive framework based on the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory that allows rational design of colloidal nanoparticle deposition setups. The framework is demonstrated for a model system consisting of gold nanoparticles stabilized by trisodium citrate that are directed toward prefabricated sub-100 nm features on a silicon substrate. Experimental results for the model system are presented in conjunction with theoretical analysis to assess its reliability. It is shown that three-dimensional, nickel-coated structures are well suited for attracting gold nanoparticles and that optimization of the feature geometry based on the proposed framework leads to a systematic improvement in the number of successfully deposited particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnas Eklöf-Österberg
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers
University of Technology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
| | - Joakim Löfgren
- Department
of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
| | - Paul Erhart
- Department
of Physics, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
| | - Kasper Moth-Poulsen
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers
University of Technology, Gothenburg 41296, Sweden
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Le-The H, Lozeman JJA, Lafuente M, Muñoz P, Bomer JG, Duy-Tong H, Berenschot E, van den Berg A, Tas NR, Odijk M, Eijkel JCT. Wafer-scale fabrication of high-quality tunable gold nanogap arrays for surface-enhanced Raman scattering. NANOSCALE 2019; 11:12152-12160. [PMID: 31194202 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr02215e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We report a robust and high-yield fabrication method for wafer-scale patterning of high-quality arrays of dense gold nanogaps, combining displacement Talbot lithography based shrink-etching with dry etching, wet etching, and thin film deposition techniques. By using the self-sharpening of <111>-oriented silicon crystal planes during the wet etching process, silicon structures with extremely smooth nanogaps are obtained. Subsequent conformal deposition of a silicon nitride layer and a gold layer results in dense arrays of narrow gold nanogaps. Using this method, we successfully fabricate high-quality Au nanogaps down to 10 nm over full wafer areas. Moreover, the gap spacing can be tuned by changing the thickness of deposited Au layers. Since the roughness of the template is minimized by the crystallographic etching of silicon, the roughness of the gold nanogaps depends almost exclusively on the roughness of the sputtered gold layers. Additionally, our fabricated Au nanogaps show a significant enhancement of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signals of benzenethiol molecules chemisorbed on the structure surface, at an average enhancement factor up to 1.5 × 106.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Le-The
- BIOS Lab-on-a-Chip Group, MESA+ Institute, Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Jasper J A Lozeman
- BIOS Lab-on-a-Chip Group, MESA+ Institute, Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Marta Lafuente
- Nanoscience Institute of Aragon, Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pablo Muñoz
- Optical Sciences Group, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Johan G Bomer
- BIOS Lab-on-a-Chip Group, MESA+ Institute, Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Hien Duy-Tong
- Faculty of Engineering, Vietnamese German University, Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam
| | - Erwin Berenschot
- Mesoscale Chemical Systems Group, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Albert van den Berg
- BIOS Lab-on-a-Chip Group, MESA+ Institute, Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Niels R Tas
- Mesoscale Chemical Systems Group, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Mathieu Odijk
- BIOS Lab-on-a-Chip Group, MESA+ Institute, Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands.
| | - Jan C T Eijkel
- BIOS Lab-on-a-Chip Group, MESA+ Institute, Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands.
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Yang Y, Gu C, Li J. Sub-5 nm Metal Nanogaps: Physical Properties, Fabrication Methods, and Device Applications. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2019; 15:e1804177. [PMID: 30589217 DOI: 10.1002/smll.201804177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Sub-5 nm metal nanogaps have attracted widespread attention in physics, chemistry, material sciences, and biology due to their physical properties, including great plasmon-enhanced effects in light-matter interactions and charge tunneling, Coulomb blockade, and the Kondo effect under an electrical stimulus. These properties especially meet the needs of many cutting-edge devices, such as sensing, optical, molecular, and electronic devices. However, fabricating sub-5 nm nanogaps is still challenging at the present, and scaled and reliable fabrication, improved addressability, and multifunction integration are desired for further applications in commercial devices. The aim of this work is to provide a comprehensive overview of sub-5 nm nanogaps and to present recent advancements in metal nanogaps, including their physical properties, fabrication methods, and device applications, with the ultimate aim to further inspire scientists and engineers in their research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
| | - Changzhi Gu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
| | - Junjie Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, P. R. China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523808, China
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Xiang D, Wang X, Jia C, Lee T, Guo X. Molecular-Scale Electronics: From Concept to Function. Chem Rev 2016; 116:4318-440. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 816] [Impact Index Per Article: 102.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Xiang
- Beijing
National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory for
Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry
and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Key
Laboratory of Optical Information Science and Technology, Institute
of Modern Optics, College of Electronic Information and Optical Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Beijing
National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory for
Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry
and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Chuancheng Jia
- Beijing
National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory for
Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry
and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Takhee Lee
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, and Institute of Applied Physics, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Xuefeng Guo
- Beijing
National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory for
Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, College of Chemistry
and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Schwarz F, Lörtscher E. Break-junctions for investigating transport at the molecular scale. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2014; 26:474201. [PMID: 25352355 DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/26/47/474201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Break-junctions (BJs) enable a pair of atomic-sized electrodes to be created and the relative position between them to be controlled with sub-nanometer accuracy by mechanical means-a level of microscopic control that is not yet achievable by top-down fabrication. Locally, a BJ consists of a single-atom contact, an arrangement that is ideal not only to study various types of quantum point contacts, but also to investigate transport through an individual molecule that can bridge such a junction. In this topical review, we will provide a broad overview on the field of single-molecule electronics, in which BJs serve as the main tool of investigation. To correlate the molecular structure and transport properties to gain a fundamental understanding of the underlying transport mechanisms at the molecular scale, basic experiments that systematically cover all aspects of transport by rational chemical design and tailored experiments are needed. The variety of fascinating transport mechanisms and intrinsic molecular functionalities discovered in the past range from nonlinear transport over conductance switching to quantum interference effects observable even at room temperature. Beside discussing these results, we also look at novel directions and the most recent advances in molecular electronics investigating simultaneously electronic transport and also the mechanical and thermal properties of single-molecule junctions as well as the interaction between molecules and light. Finally, we will describe the requirements for a stepwise transition from fundamental BJ experiments towards technology-relevant architectures for future nanoelectronics applications based on ultimately-scaled molecular building blocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Schwarz
- IBM Research-Zurich, Department of Science and Technology, Säumerstrasse 4, CH-8803 Rüschlikon, Switzerland
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Sun L, Diaz-Fernandez YA, Gschneidtner TA, Westerlund F, Lara-Avila S, Moth-Poulsen K. Single-molecule electronics: from chemical design to functional devices. Chem Soc Rev 2014; 43:7378-411. [DOI: 10.1039/c4cs00143e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 361] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The use of single molecules in electronics represents the next limit of miniaturisation of electronic devices, which would enable to continue the trend of aggressive downscaling of silicon-based electronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanlan Sun
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Chalmers University of Technology
- , Sweden
| | - Yuri A. Diaz-Fernandez
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Chalmers University of Technology
- , Sweden
| | - Tina A. Gschneidtner
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Chalmers University of Technology
- , Sweden
| | - Fredrik Westerlund
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Chalmers University of Technology
- , Sweden
| | - Samuel Lara-Avila
- Department of Micro and Nanotechnology
- MC2
- Chalmers University of Technology
- , Sweden
| | - Kasper Moth-Poulsen
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Chalmers University of Technology
- , Sweden
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Wang Y, Abb M, Boden SA, Aizpurua J, de Groot CH, Muskens OL. Ultrafast nonlinear control of progressively loaded, single plasmonic nanoantennas fabricated using helium ion milling. NANO LETTERS 2013; 13:5647-5653. [PMID: 24127754 DOI: 10.1021/nl403316z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate milling of partial antenna gaps and narrow conducting bridges with nanometer precision using a helium ion beam microscope. Single particle spectroscopy shows large shifts in the plasmonic mode spectrum of the milled antennas, associated with the transition from capacitive to conductive gap loading. A conducting bridge of nanometer height is found sufficient to shift the antenna from the capacitive to the conductive coupling regime, in agreement with circuit theory. Picosecond pump-probe spectroscopy reveals an enhanced nonlinear response for partially milled antennas, reaching an optimum value for an intermediate bridge height. Our results show that manipulation of the antenna load can be used to increase the nonlinear response of plasmonic antennas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yudong Wang
- Physics & Astronomy, Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, University of Southampton , Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
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