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JST Press Release

Oct. 07, 2013
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
5-3, Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8666
URL http://www.jst.go.jp/EN/index.html

Construction of Metal Nanocluster Electrodes onto Ultrathin Organic Molecular Films

Novel methodology for constructing metallic electrodes onto a few-layer organic thin films has been developed. In conventional metal/molecule/metal sandwich junctions constructed by the alternate depositions of molecules and metal atoms, it is generally difficult to avoid the penetration of deposited metal atoms into molecular films, which leads to the undesirable disorganization of molecular films. In contrast, we have successfully demonstrated that the bilayers and trilayer films of fullerene C60 molecules can be densely covered with size-selected Ag nanoclusters (Agn) without destructing the molecular films by depositing the nanoclusters from gas phase. We have also demonstrated that electrons and holes can be injected into the topmost layers of C60 films via the abrupt Agn/C60 interfaces. Furthermore, the barrier height for the carrier injection can be controlled by changing the size of the nanoclusters and the conditions of cluster deposition. The present results provide novel insights into the fabrication technology of metal/molecule/metal sandwich junctions, enabling the efficient injection, separation, and storage of charged carriers.

Researcher Information

The Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO)
“Nakajima Designer Nanocluster Assembly Project”

Journal Information

Masato Nakaya, Takeshi Iwasa, Hironori Tsunoyama, Toyoaki Eguchi, and Atsushi Nakajima
“Formation and Control of Ultrasharp Metal/Molecule Interfaces by Controlled Immobilization of Size-Selected Metal Nanoclusters onto Organic Molecular Films”,
Advanced Functional Materials, 14 OCT 2013.
doi: 10.1002/adfm.201302187

Contact

[About Research]
Dr. Masato Nakaya
Researcher, “Nakajima Designer Nanocluster Assembly Project, JST-ERATO”
E-mail:

[About Program]
Tsuyoshi Nakamura
Department of Research Project
Japan Science and Technology Agency
E-mail:

Japanese


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