Electronic conductive characteristics of devices fabricated with 1,10-decanedithiol and gold nanoparticles between 1-mu m electrode gaps

Electronic conductive characteristics of composites made from 1,10-decanedi thiol and gold nanoparticles were studied using a pressed pellet and with d evices made from organic dithiols, gold nanoparticles, and approximately 1- mum gap gold electrodes. The I-V curve of the former pellet was ohmic and t he temperature dependence (log(sigma) - 1/T) of the conductance was not lin ear. In contrast with it, the micro-gap device exhibited sigmoidal I-V curv e. The activation energy for the latter was 6 x 10(-3) eV which was one ord er smaller than the former pellet of 4 x 10(-2) eV. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scien ce B.V. All rights reserved.