Semiconducting metal nanocluster breakthrough paves the way for next generation electronics

The breakthrough could open the door to a wide range of potential new applications, from phone displays and flatter screens to wearable technology.

The two main types of particle-based semiconductors already in use are colloidal quantum dots and organic semiconductors. These materials are at the nanoscale. Their tiny size means they are subject to a phenomenon known as quantum confinement, which causes changes to their optical and electronic properties. These changes make them suitable for their intended applications.

Metal nanoclusters combine aspects of both these other materials, but despite containing all of the right ingredients have never – until now - been shown to display semiconducting properties.

The team devised a way of making films of nanoclusters consisting of 25 gold atoms (Au25). They then observed that the nanoclusters displayed semiconducting properties. Specifically, they observed field effect and photoconductivity in phototransistors made of these films. These unique properties are hallmarks of all semiconducting materials.