Coexistent, Competing Tunnelling, and Hopping Charge Transport in Compressed Metal Nanocluster Crystals

• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c07007
• Publication Date: 2023-10-30T22:12:28Z
• Authors: Shiyu Ji; Di Peng; Fang Sun; Qing You; Runguo Wang; Nan Yan; Yue Zhou; Weiyi Wang; Qing Tang; Nan Xia; Zhi Zeng; Zhikun Wu
• Keywords: Nanoclusters; Charge carrier

Understanding charge transport among metal particles with sizes of approximately 1 nm poses a great challenge due to the ultrasmall nanosize, yet it holds significance in development innovative materials as substitutes for traditional semiconductors, which are insulative and unstable less than ∼10 thickness. Herein, atomically precise gold nanoclusters well-defined compositions structures were investigated establish mathematical relation between conductivity interparticle distance. This was accomplished using high-pressure situ resistance characterizations, synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD), Murnaghan equation state. Based on this correlation, predicted that Au25(SNap)18 (SNap: 1-naphthalenethiolate) solid is comparable bulk silver when distance reduced 3.6 Å. Furthermore, study revealed coexisting, competing tunneling, incoherent hopping mechanisms, differed from those previously reported. The introduction conjugation-structured ligands, tuning nanoclusters, use techniques contributed enhanced conductivity, thus, carrier types determined Hall measurements. Overall, provides valuable insight into nanocluster solids represents an important advancement semiconductor research.