Photoinduced conductance switching was demonstrated in a copper phthalocyanine (CuPc)-doped gold nanoparticle (GNP) transistor formed in a nanogap electrode with a back gate structure. Two specific states were reversibly induced in conductance of the CuPc-doped devices by light irradiation and applied voltages. The probability of occurrence of conductance switching decreased with a reduction in the number of incident photons. In addition, conductance switching was not observed in the devices before CuPc doping. Conductance switching originates from change in the local potential of GNPs, possibly induced by a charge-state bistability of an individual CuPc molecule worked as a floating gate.

doi:10.1063/1.4733612