Journal of Chemistry
Volume 2016 (2016), Article ID 1247175, 8 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1247175

Research Article

Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Capped with Quaterthiophene for Transistor and Resistor Memory Devices

Mai Ha Hoang,¹ Toan Thanh Dao,² Nguyen Thi Thu Trang,³ Phuong Hoai Nam Nguyen,⁴ and Trinh Tung Ngo¹

¹Institute of Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
²Faculty of Electrical-Electronic Engineering, University of Transport and Communications, No. 3 Cau Giay Street, Dong Da, Hanoi, Vietnam
³Institute for Tropical Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
⁴Faculty of Engineering Physics and Nano-Technology, University of Engineering and Technology, Vietnam National University, 144 Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam

Received 28 October 2015; Revised 4 December 2015; Accepted 24 December 2015

Academic Editor: Ahmed Mourran

Copyright © 2016 Mai Ha Hoang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Recently, the fabrication of nonvolatile memory devices based on gold nanoparticles has been intensively investigated. In this work, we report on the design and synthesis of new semiconducting quaterthiophene incorporating hexyl thiol group (4TT). Gold nanoparticles capped with 4TT (4TTG) were prepared in a two-phase liquid-liquid system. These nanoparticles have diameters in the range 2–6 nm and are well dispersed in the poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) host matrix. The intermolecular interaction between 4TT and P3HT could enhance the charge-transport between gold nanoparticles and P3HT. Transfer curve of transistor memory device made of 4TTG/P3HT hybrid film exhibited significant current hysteresis, probably arising from the energy level barrier at 4TTG/P3HT interface. Additionally, the polymer memory resistor structure with an active layer consisting of 4TTG and P3HT displayed a remarkable electrical bistable behavior.

1. Introduction

The synthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles have been intensively investigated because of their numerous possible applications in physics, chemistry, biology, and material science [1–3]. Recently, there have been many reports regarding the fabrication of electronic and optoelectronic devices using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). A large number of approaches have been developed to prepare AuNPs using different ligands such as alkanethiols, phosphines, amines, and polymers [4–6]. Unfortunately, these ligands often hinder the charge transport as a dielectric layer on the surface of AuNPs. Therefore, the use of conjugated oligomers or polymers to protect AuNPs is of particular interest for the modulation of charge transfer and optical properties of these nanoparticles [7–9]. However, these AuNPs generally showed relatively poor dispersion in organic solvents that weakened their potential application in solution processing.

AuNPs have been embedded into π-conjugated host polymers to produce nanocomposites that combine the unique properties of AuNPs and π-conjugated polymers [10–15]. For solution processable fabrication, P3HT is one of the most widely used polymers because of its excellent properties [16, 17]. In this work, we prepared gold nanoparticles capped with quaterthiophene by a simple solution processing technique. These nanoparticles have a good solubility in organic solvents and are well dispersed in the host polymers. The intermolecular interaction between 4TT and P3HT was expected to improve the charge transport between AuNP and the conjugated polymer. The presence of 4TTG in P3HT host matrix dramatically influences the thin film transistor (TFT) memory device characteristics. We also fabricated a nonvolatile memory resistor based on P3HT and 4TTG where P3HT serves both as matrix and active component of the device.

2. Experimental Procedure

2.1. Materials

All commercially available starting materials and solvents were purchased from Aldrich, TCI, and Acros Co. and used without further purification. All of the reactions and manipulations were carried out under N₂ with standard inertatmosphere and Schlenk techniques unless otherwise noted. Solvents used in inertatmosphere reactions were dried using standard procedures. Flash column chromatography was carried out with 230–400 mesh silica-gel from Aldrich using wet-packing method. P3HT was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. The 2,2′-bithiophene 1, 5-dodecyl-2,2′-bithiophene 4, and 2-(5′-dodecyl-2,2′-bithiophen-5-yl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane 5 were prepared according to the modified literature procedures [18].

2.2. Synthesis

5-(6-Bromohexyl)-2,2 ′-bithiophene 2. A solution of bithiophene 1 (24.9 g, 0.15 mol) in 300 mL tetrahydrofuran (THF) was cooled to −78°C in an acetone/dry ice bath. N-Butyllithium (0.16 mol, 64 mL, 2.5 M in hexane) was added through a syringe over 10 min. The temperature of the reaction mixture was slowly raised to −30°C and was maintained for 1 h. After that, the reaction mixture was cooled again to −78°C, and 1,6-dibromohexane (146.4 g) was added via syringe. The mixture was stirred for 30 min at −78°C and the bath was then removed, the solution was stirred for an additional 3 h while the temperature was increased slowly to room temperature. The reaction mixture was next poured into 500 mL of dichloromethane (DCM) and 200 mL of 1 M NH₄Cl solution. The organic phase was separated, washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated. The residue was crystallized with methanol to remove 1,6-dibromohexane. The resultant precipitate was purified with silica-gel column chromatography using chloroform/hexane (1/50 v/v) and then crystallized in methanol to afford 25.6 g of solid: yield 52%.

¹H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃). δ(ppm) 7.16 (dd, = 5.2 Hz, = 1.6 Hz, 1H), 7.09 (dd, = 4.0 Hz, = 1.6 Hz, 1H), 6.98 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1H), 6.94 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1H), 6.67 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1H), 3.42 (t, 2H), 2.79 (t, 2H), 1.86 (m, 2H), 1.69 (m, 2H), 1.37–1.51 (m, 4H).

5-Bromo-5 ′-(6-bromohexyl)-2,2 ′-bithiophene 3. A solution of 5-(6-bromohexyl)-2,2′-bithiophene 2 (9.2 g, 28 mmol) in 150 mL DCM was cooled to 0°C. N-Bromosuccinimide (NBS, 5.3 g, 30 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. Then, 200 mL water was added to the reaction mixture. The organic phase was separated, washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated. The residue was purified with silica-gel column chromatography using hexane to afford 9.43 g of colorless oil: yield 83%.

¹H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃). δ(ppm) 6.94 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1H), 6.91 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1H), 6.83 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1H), 6.67 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1H), 3.41 (t, 2H), 2.79 (t, 2H), 1.87 (m, 2H), 1.69 (m, 2H), 1.37–1.51 (m, 4H).

5-Dodecyl-5 ′-(6-bromohexyl)-2,2 ′-quaterthiophene 6. 5-Bromo-5′-(6-bromohexyl)-2,2′-bithiophene 3 (3.22 g, 7 mmol), 2-(5′-dodecyl-2,2′-bithiophen-5-yl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane 5 (2.84 g, 7 mmol), and tetrakis (triphenylphosphine) palladium (230 mg, 0.2 mmol) were dissolved in 50 mL of toluene under an argon atmosphere. The resultant mixture was stirred at room temperature for 5 min before an aqueous K₂CO₃ solution (15 mL, 2 M) was added. The mixture was stirred for 24 h at 90°C under nitrogen. Then, the mixture was cooled down to room temperature and neutralized with 1 M HCl solution. The organic layer was separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with DCM. The combined organic layer was condensed and the residue was purified with silica-gel column chromatography using chloroform/hexane (1/5 v/v) to afford 3.01 g of yellow solid: yield 65%.

¹H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃). δ(ppm) 7.04 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 6.99 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 6.97 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 6.69 (m, 2H), 3.42 (t, 2H), 2.76–2.83 (m, 4H), 1.85–1.90 (m, 2H), 1.65–1.73 (m, 4H), 1.26–1.47 (m, 22H), 0.88 (t, 3H).

Anal. Calcd. for C ₃₄H ₄₅BrS ₄. C, 61.70; H, 6.85; Br, 12.07; S, 19.38 Found: C, 61.78; H, 6.75; Br, 12.09; S, 19.35. MS (MALDI-TOF) [M]⁺: Calcd. for C₃₄H₄₅BrS₄, 661.89; found 662.1

5-Dodecyl-5 ′-(6-ethanethioatehexyl)-2,2 ′-quaterthiophene 7. A solution of 5-dodecyl-5′-(6-bromohexyl)-2,2′-quaterthiophene 6 (1.99 g, 3 mmol) and potassium thioacetate (0.68 g, 6 mmol) in 100 mL N,N-dimethylformamide was stirred at 90°C overnight. Then, the mixture was cooled down to room temperature and 100 mL water was added to the reaction mixture. The resultant precipitate was filtered and washed with methanol and then purified with silica-gel column chromatography using chloroform/hexane (1/1 v/v). After that, it was crystallized in THF/methanol to afford 1.71 g of yellow solid: yield 87%.

¹H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃). δ(ppm) 7.03 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 6.99 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 6.97 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 6.68 (m, 2H), 2.87 (t, 2H), 2.79 (t, 4H), 2.33 (s, 3H), 1.66–1.70 (m, 6H), 1.26–1.42 (m, 22H), 0.88 (t, 3H).

Anal. Calcd. for C ₃₆H ₄₈OS ₅. C, 65.80; H, 7.36; O, 2.43; S, 24.40 Found: C, 65.77; H, 7.42; S, 24.32. MS (MALDI-TOF) [M]⁺: Calcd. for C₃₆H₄₈OS₅, 657.09; found 657.20.

5-Dodecyl-5 ′-(6-thiolhexyl)-2,2 ′-quaterthiophene 4TT. 5-Dodecyl-5′-(6-ethanethioatehexyl)-2,2′-quaterthiophene 7 (1.51 g, 2.3 mmol) was dissolved in 100 mL THF. A solution of potassium hydroxide (0.28 g, 5 mmol) in 5 mL ethanol was added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. Then, 200 mL of water was added slowly to precipitate out the product. The resultant precipitate was filtered and washed with methanol and then purified with silica-gel column chromatography using chloroform. After that, it was crystallized in DCM/methanol to afford 1.3 g of yellow solid: yield 92%.

¹H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃). δ(ppm) 7.03 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 6.99 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 6.97 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 6.68 (m, 2H), 2.77–2.81 (m, 4H), 2.50–2.56 (m, 2H), 1.61–1.71 (m, 6H), 1.26–1.44 (m, 22H), 0.88 (t, 3H).

¹³C-NMR (100 MHz, CDCl ₃). δ(ppm) 145.67, 145.25, 136.72, 136.59, 135.37, 135.27, 134.53, 134.40, 124.92, 124.83, 124.00, 123.59, 123.35, 33.88, 31.92, 31.59, 31.41, 30.19, 30.07, 29.64, 29.36, 29.07, 28.45, 28.05, 24.60, 22.70, 14.15.

Anal. Calcd. for C ₃₄H ₄₆S ₅. C, 66.39; H, 7.54; S, 26.07 Found: C, 66.35; H, 7.42; S, 26.18. MS (MALDI-TOF) [M]⁺: Calcd. for C₃₄H₄₆S₅, 615.05; found 615.20.

Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Capped with Quaterthiophene 4TTG. An aqueous solution of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (60 mL, 0.015 M) was mixed with a solution of tetraoctylammonium bromide in toluene (80 mL, 0.05 M). The two-phase mixture was vigorously stirred until all the tetrachloroaurate was transferred into the organic layer and the color changed to orange. 4TT (0.18 g, 0.3 mmol) in 60 mL toluene was then added to the organic phase. The mixture was stirred at 70°C for 1 h. Then, the mixture was cooled down to room temperature and an aqueous solution of sodium borohydride (50 mL, 0.2 M) was slowly added with vigorous stirring. After further stirring for 6 h the organic phase was separated, washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated. Finally, 4TTG was precipitated in DCM/acetonitrile to afford 0.3 g of dark brown solid.

¹H-NMR (300 MHz, CDCl ₃). δ(ppm) 7.03 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 6.99 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 6.96 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 6.68 (m, 2H), 3.25–3.31 (m, 2H), 2.77–2.81 (m, 4H), 1.60–1.65 (m, 6H), 1.26–1.42 (m, 22H), 0.88 (t, 3H).

Elemental Analysis. Au, 64.02%; C, 23.78%; H, 2.61%; S, 9.59%.

2.3. Instrumentation

¹H NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian AS400 (399.937 MHz for 1H and 100.573 MHz for 13C) spectrometer. ¹H chemical shifts are referenced to the proton resonance resulting from protic residue in deuterated solvent and ¹³C chemical shift recorded downfield in ppm relative to the carbon resonance of the deuterated solvents. MALDI-TOF analysis was performed on a Voyager-DE STR MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer. The elemental analyses for measuring the composition of C, H, S, and N were performed on an EA1112 (Thermo Electron Corp., West Chester, PA, USA) elemental analyzer. Thermal properties were studied on a TGA50 (Heating rate of 5°C/min). All transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images were obtained at 200 keV with LaB6 filament, using a Tecnai G2 F20 S-Twin and recorded with a 2 K 2 K pixel resolution Veleta TEM camera (Olympus) on Cu TEM grids. Absorption and emission spectra were obtained using an HP-8453 spectrophotometer (photodiode array type) and Hitachi F-7000 fluorescence spectrophotometer using quartz cells, respectively. The redox properties of 4TT and P3HT molecules were examined using cyclic voltammetry (CV, EA161 eDAQ). The electrolyte solution employed was 0.10 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (Bu₄NPF₆) in a freshly dried MC. The Ag/AgCl and Pt wire (0.5 mm in diameter) electrodes were used as the reference and counter electrode, respectively. The scan rate was 50 mV/s. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM, Advanced Scanning Probe Microscope, XE-100, PSIA) operating in the tapping mode with a silicon cantilever (type A, resonant frequency: 150 kHz) was used to characterize the surface morphologies of the thin film samples.

2.4. TFT Memory Fabrication

To study charge transport properties of the 4TTG/P3HT blend, bottom-gate/top-contact (BGTC) TFT device structure was employed. The gate electrode was n-type doped silicon wafer and the SiO₂ gate insulator has a thickness of 300 nm. The substrate was cleaned thoroughly by a series of ultrasonications in different solvents such as acetone, cleaning agent, deionized water, and isopropanol. The cleaned substrates were dried under vacuum at 120°C for 1 h and then treated with UV/ozone for 20 min. Then, the wafers were immersed in a 8 mmol/L solution of n-octyltrichlorosilane (OTS) in anhydrous toluene for 30 min to generate a hydrophobic insulator surface. The active layer (4TTG/P3HT: 1/9) was deposited on the OTS-treated substrates by spin-coating polymer solutions (1%) at 1500 rpm for 40 s. Finally, the source and drain electrodes were prepared using thermal evaporation of gold (100 nm) through a shadow mask with a channel width of 1500 μm and a channel length of 100 μm. Transfer characteristics of the devices were determined in air using a Keithley 4200 SCS semiconductor parameter analyzer.

2.5. Resistor Memory Device Fabrication

The memory devices were fabricated according to the modified literature procedures [15, 17]. The first step involved preparation of the substrate. Glass substrates were cleaned with detergent, deionized water, acetone, and isopropyl alcohol in an ultrasonic bath. The substrates were dried for 2 h and subsequently treated with UV ozone for 20 min. After that, the bottom aluminum (Al) electrode was deposited by using a thermal evaporator with a shadow metal mask at a base pressure of 2 × 10−6 torr. The UV-ozone treatment was repeated again to activate the Al surface. The active layer of 50 nm was formed by spin coating a solution of 0.9 wt% P3HT and 0.1 wt% 4TTG. Finally, the top Al electrode was deposited. Both the electrodes have a thickness of 70 nm. The device had an area of 2 × 2 mm². The electrical characteristics of the device were also measured using Keithley 4200-SCS semiconductor characterization system under ambient conditions.

3. Results and Discussions

3.1. Synthesis

We report the easy, high-yield synthesis of new semiconducting quaterthiophene 4TT incorporating hexyl thiol group. In comparison with reported quaterthiophene analogues [19–22], this compound bears two long alkyl chains that could improve its solubility. In Scheme 1, the Suzuki coupling reaction of 5-bromo-5′-(6-bromohexyl)-2,2′-bithiophene 3 and 2-(5′-dodecyl-2,2′-bithiophen-5-yl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolane 5 was conducted in the presence of a catalytic amount of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) palladium to afford compound 6. This compound was converted to compound 7. After removing the ethanethioate group, 4TT was obtained in good yield.

Scheme 1: Synthetic route of 4TT.

We prepared gold nanoparticles 4TTG by keeping the concentration of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate, tetraoctylammonium bromide and varying the concentration of the ligand 4TT (Figure 1(a)). It was found that the mole ratio of 3/1 (Au/4TT) was optimum for the formation of AuNPs capped with 4TT without the aggregation of nanoparticles.

(a)

(b)

Figure 1: Schematic illustration of self-assembled 4TT layer on the AuNPs (a) and TEM images of 4TTG (b).

The NMR of 4TTG and 4TT was similar, which indicated that AuNPs were capped with 4TT. Elemental analysis gave the following: Au, 64.02%; C, 23.78%; H, 2.61%; S, 9.59%. The C : H : S ratios of 4TTG and 4TT were similar further confirming the formation of 4TT layer on the AuNPs. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the 4TTG started losing mass at about 265°C. The weight loss from room temperature to 800°C was about 35% that well matched the elemental analysis result.

3.2. Morphology of QTTG

TEM images of the 4TTG (Figure 1(b)) showed that they were narrow polydispersed nanoparticles with diameters in the range 2–6 nm. The narrow polydispersity of AuNPs could result from the formation of a self-assembled 4TT layer on the growing nuclei. In comparison with dodecanethiol-protected AuNPs, the particles size of 4TTG was bigger. It is because of the steric effect that restricted the interaction between 4TT and the surface of AuNPs.

3.3. Optical and Electrochemical Properties

The solution samples were prepared in chloroform with a concentration of 1 × 10⁻⁶ M, and the thin film samples were fabricated by spin-coating with 1 wt% solutions. The absorption spectra of 4TT and 4TTG in solution state were shown in Figure 2(a). 4TT showed an absorption maximum at 401 nm while 4TTG exhibited an absorption maximum at 395 and a shoulder at 500–550 nm; those were contributed by 4TT and AuNPs, respectively. This spectrum suggested that the average particle size of 4TTG was below 5 nm because larger particles often exhibit a sharper and more intense plasmon absorption band close to 525 nm [4]. 4TT exhibited PL spectral behavior with emission maxima at 466 and 493 nm in solution state. Interestingly, the PL spectrum of 4TTG showed low efficiency due to their self-absorption.

(a)

(b)

Figure 2: UV-vis absorption and PL emission spectra. (a) UV-vis absorption spectra of 4TT (i) and 4TTG (ii), PL emission spectra of 4TT (iii) and 4TTG (iv) in solution state; (b) UV-vis absorption spectra of P3HT (i) and a composite of 10% 4TTG in P3HT (ii) in film state.

The absorption spectra of P3HT and the composite of 10% 4TTG in P3HT in film state were shown in Figure 2(b). Similar absorption maxima of these films were located at 520 nm. A slight float was observed in the film state of the composite, which was attributed to the presence of 4TTG in the matrix. The composite also showed a good film forming that could be used for the device fabrication.

CV measurements were taken to determine the oxidation potentials of 4TT and P3HT. We combined the oxidation potential in CV with the optical energy band gap () as determined by the cut-off absorption wavelength in the absorption spectrum to calculate the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels. 4TT and P3HT were found to have the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) levels of −5.18 and −5.02 eV, respectively. Concomitantly, 4TT and P3HT have LUMO energy levels of −2.52 and −3.12 eV, respectively.

3.4. Atomic Force Microscopic Study

AFM images of P3HT and the nanocomposite of 10% 4TTG in P3HT were shown in Figure 3. P3HT and the blend of 4TTG/P3HT were dissolved in chloroform and the resulting solutions were then spin-coated on silicon wafers. The surface morphology of P3HT and the blend of 4TTG/P3HT thin films exhibited root mean squares (RMS) roughness values of 0.9 and 1.2 nm, respectively. The topography of 4TTG/P3HT thin films showed small surface roughness that indicated a high miscibility of 4TTG on the hybrid film.

(a)

(b)

Figure 3: AFM topographic images (5 × 5 μm) of the spin-coated films of P3HT (a) and 4TTG/P3HT (b).

3.5. TFT Memory Characteristics

Figure 4(b) exhibited the transfer curves of TFT devices with and without 4TTG upon double sweeping where the cyclic sweeping of the gate voltage was operated from 40 V to −60 V and then back to 40 V. These TFT devices showed the p-type characteristics. Transfer curve of neat P3HT film displayed no hysteresis with near-zero threshold voltage (). By contrast, transfer curve of 4TTG/P3HT hybrid film exhibited significant current hysteresis, probably arising from the charge trapping effect of the 4TTG in the P3HT matrix [10, 13]. The memory window (), defined as the change in between programmed and erased characteristics, was estimated to be around 20 V. Indeed, charge trapping/detrapping by AuNPs would modulate the conductivity of the P3HT transistor channel, resulting in a change in the transfer curves.

(a)

(b)

Figure 4: (a) TFT device structure using 4TTG/P3HT as active layer and (b) transfer characteristics of the Au/P3HT/Au (programed (curve (1)) and erased (curve (2)) states) and Au/4TTG + P3HT/Au (programed (curve (3)) and erased (curve (4)) states) devices.

3.6. Resistor Memory Behavior

Figure 5(a) shows the resistive device structure with a polymer layer sandwiched between two aluminum electrodes. The active layer consists of a P3HT film containing 10% 4TTG nanoparticles. 4TTG were selected in this device because gold nanoparticles were capped with quaterthiophene thiol. The quaterthiophene has a similar structure with P3HT that might lead to an effective intermolecular interaction and charge transfer between 4TTG and P3HT.

(a)

(b)

Figure 5: (a) Device structure and (b) current-voltage (-) characteristics of the Al/4TTG + P3HT/Al and Al/P3HT/Al resistor memory devices. Curves (1), (2), and (3) represent the first, second, and third bias scans of the Al/4TTG + P3HT/Al device. Curve (4) is the - curve of the Al/P3HT/Al device.

Figure 5(b) shows the current-voltage (-) curve of the device. Two distinct conducting states were observed. The pristine device showed a low current when the applied voltage was from 0 to 2.5 V, which corresponds to the “0” state of a bistable memory [15, 17]. When the applied voltage was approaching 2.7 V, a remarkably abrupt current increase from 2 × 10⁻⁸ to 4 × 10⁻⁵ A was observed (curve (1)). The device still remained in the high-conductivity state (on-state) in the subsequent scan (curve (2)). The on/off current ratio at 1 V was obtained to be more than four orders of magnitude. After the large applied voltage was removed, the on-state still remained, which corresponded to the “1” state of a memory. This phenomenon demonstrated a nonvolatile memory behavior. When the applied voltage was reaching −5.7 V, a high-conductivity state returned to the low-conductivity as shown in curve (3). After the device was restored to its low-conductivity state, once again, it could exhibit a similar - characteristic as in the first voltage sweep, which indicated that the device has a rewritable nonvolatile property. On the other hand, the device that used a pure P3HT without 4TTG in the active layer did not exhibit a significant current hysteresis (curve (4)). In this device, the - curve still showed a low-conductivity state even when the applied voltage went as high as 7 V. For comparison, the memory device that used P3HT and dodecanethiol-protected AuNPs showed an ambiguous current jump in off-state and unclear erase behavior [17]. This phenomenon could be explained by the role of quaterthiophene layer of 4TTG. Quaterthiophene group can interact with P3HT and thereby enhances the charge-transport between 4TTG and P3HT.

4. Conclusion

In conclusion, gold nanoparticles capped with quaterthiophene were successfully prepared in a two-phase liquid-liquid system. These particles have diameters in the range 2–6 nm and are well dispersed in organic solvents. The intermolecular interaction between 4TT and P3HT could enhance the charge-transport between gold nanoparticles and the host polymer. Transfer curve of TFT device made of 4TTG/P3HT hybrid film exhibited significant current hysteresis. A polymer memory device using P3HT and 4TTG exhibited a repeatable bistable behavior and high stability even after a large number of read-write-erase cycles. Four orders of magnitude difference between the on and off currents was achieved. This report contributes to the preparation of gold nanoparticles for the nonvolatile electronic memory.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

This research is funded by Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) under Grant no. “104.02-2013.67”. The authors acknowledge Professor Dong Hoon Choi (Korea University) for his kind support.

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