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Towards deterministically controlled InGaAs/GaAs lateral quantum dot molecules
We report on the fabrication, detailed characterization and modeling of lateral InGaAs quantum dot molecules (QDMs) embedded in a GaAs matrix and we discuss strategies to fully control their spatial configuration and electronic properties. The three-dimensional morphology of encapsulated QDMs was revealed by selective wet chemical etching of the GaAs top capping layer and subsequent imaging by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The AFM investigation showed that different overgrowth procedures have a profound consequence on the QDM height and shape. QDMs partially capped and annealed in situ for micro- photoluminescence spectroscopy consist of shallow but well-defined quantum dots (QDs) in contrast to misleading results usually provided by surface morphology measurements when they are buried by a thin GaAs layer. This uncapping approach is crucial for determining the QDM structural parameters, which are required for modeling the system. A single-band effective-mass approximation is employed to calculate the confined electron and heavy-hole energy levels, taking the geometry and structural information extracted from the uncapping experiments as inputs. The calculated transition energy of the single QDM shows good agreement with the experimentally observed values. By decreasing the edge-to-edge distance between the two QDs within a QDM, a splitting of the electron (hole) wavefunction into symmetric and antisymmetric states is observed, indicating the presence of lateral coupling. Site control of such lateral QDMs obtained by growth on a pre-patterned substrate, combined with a technology to fabricate gate structures at well-defined positions with respect to the QDMs, could lead to deterministically controlled devices based on QDMs. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft
Transport properties of chemically synthesized polypyrrole thin films
The electronic transport in polypyrrole thin films synthesized chemically
from the vapor phase is studied as a function of temperature as well as of
electric and magnetic fields. We find distinct differences in comparison to the
behavior of both polypyrrole films prepared by electrochemical growth as well
as of the bulk films obtained from conventional chemical synthesis. For small
electric fields F, a transition from Efros-Shklovskii variable range hopping to
Arrhenius activated transport is observed at 30 K. High electric fields induce
short range hopping. The characteristic hopping distance is found to be
proportional to F^(-1/2). The magnetoresistance R(B) is independent of F below
a critical magnetic field, above which F counteracts the magnetic field induced
localization.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Edge-driven nanomembrane-based vertical organic transistors showing a multi-sensing capability
The effective utilization of vertical organic transistors in high current density applications demands further reduction of channel length (given by the thickness of the organic semiconducting layer and typically reported in the 100 nm range) along with the optimization of the source electrode structure. Here we present a viable solution by applying rolled-up metallic nanomembranes as the drain-electrode (which enables the incorporation of few nanometer-thick semiconductor layers) and by lithographically patterning the source-electrode. Our vertical organic transistors operate at ultra-low voltages and demonstrate high current densities (~0.5 A cm-2) that are found to depend directly on the number of source edges, provided the source perforation gap is wider than 250 nm. We anticipate that further optimization of device structure can yield higher current densities (~10 A cm-2). The use of rolled-up drain-electrode also enables sensing of humidity and light which highlights the potential of these devices to advance next-generation sensing technologies
Hybrid nanomembrane-based capacitors for the determination of the dielectric constant of semiconducting molecular ensembles
CAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOConsiderable advances in the field of molecular electronics have been achieved over the recent years. One persistent challenge, however, is the exploitation of the electronic properties of molecules fully integrated into devices. Typically, the molecular electronic properties are investigated using sophisticated techniques incompatible with a practical device technology, such as the scanning tunneling microscopy. The incorporation of molecular materials in devices is not a trivial task as the typical dimensions of electrical contacts are much larger than the molecular ones. To tackle this issue, we report on hybrid capacitors using mechanically-compliant nanomembranes to encapsulate ultrathin molecular ensembles for the investigation of molecular dielectric properties. As the prototype material, copper (II) phthalocyanine (CuPc) has been chosen as information on its dielectric constant (k(CuPc)) at the molecular scale is missing. Here, hybrid nanomembrane-based capacitors containing metallic nanomembranes, insulating Al2O3 layers, and the CuPc molecular ensembles have been fabricated and evaluated. The Al2O3 is used to prevent short circuits through the capacitor plates as the molecular layer is considerably thin (< 30 nm). From the electrical measurements of devices with molecular layers of different thicknesses, the CuPc dielectric constant has been reliably determined (k(CuPc) = 4.5 +/- 0.5). These values suggest a mild contribution of the molecular orientation on the CuPc dielectric properties. The reported nanomembrane-based capacitor is a viable strategy for the dielectric characterization of ultrathin molecular ensembles integrated into a practical, real device technology.292619CAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOsem informação483550/2013-22014/25979-
Determination of the Charge Transport Mechanisms in Ultrathin Copper Phthalocyanine Vertical Heterojunctions
Electrical Properties of Hybrid Nanomembrane/Nanoparticle Heterojunctions: The Role of Inhomogeneous Arrays
Investigation of charge transport
mechanisms across inhomogeneous
nanoparticle (NP) layers in heterojunctions is one of the key technological
challenges nowadays for developing novel hybrid nanostructured functional
elements. Here, we successfully demonstrate for the first time the
fabrication and characterization of a novel hybrid organic/inorganic
heterojunction, which combines free-standing metallic nanomembranes
with self-assembled mono- and sub-bilayers of commercially available
colloidal NPs with no more than ∼10<sup>5</sup> NPs. The low-temperature
conductance–voltage spectra exhibit Coulomb features that correlate
with various interface’s configurations, including the presence
of inhomogeneities at the nano- and micrometer scale owing to the
NP size, the micrometer-sized voids, and the thickness of the layers.
The charge transport features observed can be explained by a superposition
of conductance characteristics of each individual type of NPs. The
procedure adopted to fabricate the heterojunctions as well as the
theoretical approach employed to study the charge transport mechanisms
across the NP layers may be of interest for investigating different
types of NPs and commonly obtained inhomogeneous layers. In addition,
the combination of metallic nanomembranes with self-assembled layers
of NPs makes such a hybrid organic/inorganic heterostructure an interesting
platform and building block for future nanoelectronics, especially
after intentional tuning of its electronic behavior
Gate controlled Aharonov-Bohm-type oscillations from single neutral excitons in quantum rings
We report on a magnetophotoluminescence study of single self-assembled semiconductor nanorings which are fabricated by molecular-beam epitaxy combined with AsBr3 in situ etching. Oscillations in the neutral exciton radiative recombination energy and in the emission intensity are observed under an applied magnetic field. Further, we control the period of the oscillations with a gate potential that modifies the exciton confinement. We infer from the experimental results, combined with calculations, that the exciton Aharonov-Bohm effect may account for the observed effects.Kavli Institute of NanoscienceApplied Science