Scaffold-organized metal, alloy, semiconductor and/or magnetic clusters and electronic devices made using such clusters

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 molecules selected from the group consisting of polynucleotides, polypeptides, and perhaps combinations thereof. Polypeptides capable of forming α helices are currently preferred for forming scaffolds. Arrays are then formed by contacting the scaffold with plural, monodispersed ligand-stabilized clusters. Each cluster, prior to contacting the scaffold, includes plural exchangeable ligands bonded thereto. If the clusters are metal clusters, then the metal preferably is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Pt, Pd and mixtures thereof. A currently preferred metal is gold, and a currently preferred metal cluster is Au 55 having a radius of from about 0.7 to about 1 nm. Compositions also are described, one use for which is in the formation of cluster arrays. One embodiment of the composition comprises plural monodispersed, ligand-stabilized clusters coupled to a polypeptide.

1 . An array of metal clusters, comprising:
 a substrate;   monodispersed, thiol-stabilized gold clusters having metal-cluster radiuses of from about 0.7 nm to about 1.8 nm; and   a polynucleotide scaffold having a lateral definition of about 10 Å coupled to the substrate, in predetermined patterns on the substrate; and a plurality of gold clusters being coupled to the scaffold, the clusters having a distance between the edges of cluster cores of less than about 5 nm.   
     
     
         2 . An array, comprising:
 a substrate;   a polynucleotide scaffold coupled to the substrate; and   a plurality of gold clusters coupled to the scaffold with an interparticle separation of less than about 5 nm, the gold clusters having at least one thiol ligand coordinated thereto, and   the clusters having metal-cluster radiuses of from about 0.7 nm to about 1.8 nm.   
     
     
         3 . The array of  claim 2 , wherein the gold clusters are electrostatically coupled to the scaffold. 
     
     
         4 . The array of  claim 2 , wherein the thiol ligand comprises an aryl group, an alkyl group, or both. 
     
     
         5 . The array of  claim 4 , wherein the thiol ligand comprises an acidic group. 
     
     
         6 . The array of  claim 5 , wherein the acidic group is a carboxylic acid group. 
     
     
         7 . The array of  claim 6 , wherein the thiol ligand is selected from thiopropionic acid or mercaptoundecanoic acid. 
     
     
         8 . The array of  claim 2 , wherein the substrate comprises silicon, silicon nitride, ultraflat glass, gold or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The array of  claim 2 , wherein the scaffold has a lateral definition of about 10 Å. 
     
     
         10 . The array of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the edges of cluster cores is from about 1 nm to about 5 nm. 
     
     
         11 . The array of  claim 2 , wherein the distance between the edges of cluster cores is from about 1 nm to about 5 nm. 
     
     
         12 . The array of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide scaffold is DNA. 
     
     
         13 . The array of  claim 1 , wherein the polynucleotide scaffold is RNA.