Electronic properties of phthalocyanine/gold nanoparticle networks
We studied the electronic transport properties of hybrid networks based on semiconducting conjugated oligomers and metal nanoparticles (NPs). Spherical gold (Au) NPs were linked by means of copper 3-diethylamino-1-propylsulphonamide sulfonic acid substituted phthalocyanine (CuPcSu) molecules to form a network confined between Au nanodistant electrodes. It was possible to discriminate between various transport mechanisms typical for such structures (i.e. tunnelling and hopping), to evaluate conduction thresholds and to reveal charging effects involving few electrons, at lower temperatures. The interpretation was assisted by AFM, FE-SEM and TEM imaging techniques.