Electron transfer at the contact between Al electrode and gold nanoparticles of polymer: Nanoparticle resistive switching devices studied by alternating current impedance spectroscopy

Abstract

Electron transfer at the contact between an Al electrode and Au nanoparticles of polymer:nanoparticle devices is studied by ac impedance spectroscopy. The devices have a polystyrene layer embedded with Au nanoparticles capped with conjugated 2-naphthalenethiol sandwiched between Al and MoO3/Al electrodes, and they exhibit electrode-sensitive resistive switches. The devices in the pristine or high resistance state have high capacitance. The capacitance decreases after the devices switch to a low resistance state by a voltage scan. The change in the capacitance is attributed to the voltage-induced change on the electronic structure of the contact between the Al electrode and Au nanoparticles. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.