Electrical and electrochemical properties of nanocomposite thin films formed by exchange-precipitation route from nanocrystals and organic cross-linkers

摘要

The structural, electrical and electrochemical properties of nanoparticle thin films derived by a one-step exchange-crosslinking-precipitation route were characterized by microscopic, spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. Tholate-encapsulated gold nanocrystals of 2-nm and 5-nm core sizes and alkylditiol crosslinkers were studied as a model system. The mixing of the two components in solutions allowed sequential exchanging, crosslinking and precipitation of dithiol-crosslinked nanocrystal thin films. The films were specularly reflecting and electronically continuous, and have potential applications in catalysis and molecular recognition.