Fabrication of ultra-pure gold nanoparticles capped with dodecanethiol for Schottky-diode chemical gas sensing devices

Identifier:  PC:1898

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/PC1898

Authors:  Radu Ionescu; Umut Cindemir; Tesfalem Geremariam Welearegay; Raul Calavia; Zouhair Haddi; Zareh Topalian; Claes-Göran Granqvist; Eduard Llobet

Abstract:
Ultra-pure monolayer-capped gold nanoparticles for chemical gas sensing devices were prepared by a novel two-step process: a physical vapour deposition technique was first employed to make dispersed ultra-pure size-controlled gold nanoparticles, and this step was followed by a coating process for functionalization of the gold nanoparticles with an organic ligand, specifically dodecanethiol. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy proved that the nano-assemblies had high purity. Chemical sensing devices based on these nano-assemblies showed Schottky-diode behaviour. We believe this is the first observation of Schottky-diodes fabricated from nanomaterials based on metallic nanoparticles. Gas sensing experiments demonstrated that these devices were suitable for detecting volatile organic compounds.