Three-terminal electric transport measurements on gold nano-particles combined with ex situ TEM inspection

Nanotechnology. 2009 Oct 14;20(41):415207. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/20/41/415207. Epub 2009 Sep 18.

Abstract

We have fabricated nanometer-spaced electrodes on electron-transparent silicon nitride membranes. A thin Cr/Au layer is evaporated on the backside of the membrane which serves as a gate electrode. Using these devices, we have performed three-terminal electron transport measurements on gold nano-particles at liquid helium temperature. Coulomb Blockade features have been observed and the capacitance to the gate has been extracted. After transport measurements, the Cr/Au back gate is removed and the devices are inspected with a transmission-electron microscope (TEM). TEM inspection reveals the presence of a few nano-particles in the nanogap, which is in agreement with the transport measurements. In addition, the nano-particle size as observed by TEM coincides with the one estimated from the gate capacitance value.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromium / chemistry
  • Gold / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / methods*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*

Substances

  • Chromium
  • Gold