Abstract: A photoacoustic spectrometer includes: a light source including: a supercontinuum laser to produce a first light including a high-frequency; a tunable wavelength filter to select a wavelength of the first light; a bandwidth filter to select a bandwidth of the first light; a modulator to receive the first light and to modulate the first light at an acoustic frequency to produce a probe light including: the acoustic frequency; and the high-frequency, the light source to irradiate nondestructively a sample with the probe light; a cavity to receive the sample and the probe light and including: a first window to transmit the probe light into the cavity; and a second window to transmit the probe light out of the cavity; a transducer to detect a photoacoustic signal produced from the sample in response to absorption of the probe light by the sample; and an optical detector to detect the probe light.

Abstract: A solution-based method for attaching metal contacts to molecular films is described. The metal contacts are attached to functional groups on individual molecules in the molecular film. The chemical state of the functional group is controlled to induce electroless metal deposition preferentially at the functional group site. The functionalized molecules may also be patterned on a surface to give spatial control over the location of the metal contacts in a more complex structure. Spatial control is limited only by the ability to pattern the molecular film. To demonstrate the feasibility of this concept, self-assembled monolayers of model, molecular-electronic compounds have been prepared on gold surfaces, and these surfaces were subsequently exposed to electroless deposition plating baths. These samples exhibited selective metal contact attachment, even on patterned surfaces.

Abstract: A solution-based method for attaching metal contacts to molecular films is described. The metal contacts are attached to functional groups on individual molecules in the molecular film. The chemical state of the functional group is controlled to induce electroless metal deposition preferentially at the functional group site. The functionalized molecules may also be patterned on a surface to give spatial control over the location of the metal contacts in a more complex structure. Spatial control is limited only by the ability to pattern the molecular film. To demonstrate the feasibility of this concept, self-assembled monolayers of model, molecular-electronic compounds have been prepared on gold surfaces, and these surfaces were subsequently exposed to electroless deposition plating baths. These samples exhibited selective metal contact attachment, even on patterned surfaces.