Conduction through molecule-gold cluster complexes and application

In this paper, we demonstrate a new way to build a two terminal device with organic molecules and gold cluster complexes and describe its potential application as a gas sensor. This new structure provides the possibility to controllably build single molecular size gaps and hetero-contacts to molecules. Molecules and gold cluster complexes, which can be sensitive to a specific gas environment, are assembled by using porphyrin and pyridine bonding. Gold clusters are transferred to devices by Langmuir-Schaffer method and stamping with an elastomer substrate.