Scaffold-organized clusters and electronic devices made using such clusters
AssigneesThe State of Oregon acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on behalf of, University of Oregon
InventorsJames E. Hutchison, Scott M. Reed, Martin N. Wybourne
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Abstract
A method for forming arrays of metal, alloy, semiconductor or magnetic clusters is described. The method comprises placing a scaffold on a substrate, the scaffold comprising, for example, polynucleotides and/or polypeptides, and coupling the clusters to the scaffold. Methods of producing arrays in predetermined patterns and electronic devices that incorporate such patterned arrays are also described.
Claims66
A method for forming arrays of metal, alloy, semiconductor and/or magnetic clusters, comprising:
- placing a scaffold on a substrate;
- and
- coupling monodispersed clusters, selected from the group consisting of metal clusters, alloy clusters, semiconductor clusters, magnetic clusters, and combinations thereof, to the scaffold.
A method for forming arrays of metal clusters, comprising:
- placing a scaffold on a substrate, the scaffold comprising molecules selected from the group consisting of polynucleotides, polypeptides, and mixtures thereof;
- and
- forming arrays by contacting the scaffold with plural monodispersed ligand-stabilized metal clusters, the metal being selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Pt, Pd and mixtures thereof, the clusters being coupled to the scaffold.
A composition, comprising:
- a polypeptide capable of forming α-helix;
- and
- plural monodispersed clusters, each cluster having plural ligands that serve to couple the clusters to the polypeptide.
A composition, comprising:
- a polynucleotide capable of forming a helical structure;
- and
- plural monodispersed clusters, each cluster having plural ligands that serve to couple the clusters to the polynucleotide.
An organized array of metal clusters, comprising:
- monodispersed, ligand-stabilized metal clusters having metal-cluster radii of from about 0.4 nm to about 1.8 nm, the metal being selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Pt, Pd and mixtures thereof;
- and
- a scaffold, the metal clusters being coupled to the scaffold to form an organized array.
An electronic device that operates at or about room temperature based on the Coulomb blockade effect, comprising:
- a first cluster comprising a metal cluster core having a radius of between about 0.4 nm and about 1.8 nm;
- and
- a second such cluster physically spaced apart from the first metal cluster at a distance of less than about 5 nm, where the physical separation between the first and second clusters is maintained by the clusters being coupled to a biomolecular scaffold.
A method of synthesizing phosphine-stabilized gold nanoparticles, comprising:
- dissolving HAuCl4 and PPh3 in a biphasic system, the biphasic system comprising a water phase, an organic phase, and a phase transfer catalyst;
- and
- adding sodium borohydride to the biphasic system.
A method of preparing thiol-stabilized gold nanoparticles, comprising:
- dissolving a phosphine-stabilized gold nanoparticle in an organic solvent;
- and
- exchanging the phosphine ligands of the phosphine-stabilized gold nanoparticle for thiol ligands, the thiol ligands further comprising a group of atoms that is capable of coupling the thiol-stabilized gold nanoparticle to a scaffold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.