The relentless demand for higher-density, lower-power memory devices has driven intense research into nanoscale floating-gate architectures. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) represent promising candidates for nano-floating gates due to their excellent charge retention capabilities and chemical stability. However, precisely assembling these nanoparticles into well-ordered, non-close-packed arrays over large areas has proven difficult using conventional fabrication methods.
A research team led by Jintao Zhu and Renhua Deng at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with Wen Li at Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, has developed an innovative solution to this challenge. Their approach, published in Nano Research , leverages the self-assembly behavior of block copolymers to create templates for precisely positioning AuNPs.
The researchers utilized polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-P4VP) diblock copolymers, which spontaneously form monodisperse micelles in solution. Through systematic optimization of dip-coating speed and micelle concentration, they rapidly fabricated large-area ordered micelle monolayers. These templates feature regularly spaced, protonated P4VP cores that serve as selective binding sites.
"The key innovation is the point-to-point adsorption mechanism," explained Jintao Zhu, professor at the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at HUST and recipient of the National Outstanding Young Scientists Fund. "Each protonated P4VP core captures exactly one citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticle through electrostatic interactions. This one-to-one matching ensures the formation of highly ordered non-close-packed arrays, where the inter-particle spacing can be tuned by the micelle size."
This precise control over nanoparticle placement translates directly into superior device performance. The team fabricated nano-floating-gate transistor memory devices using the AuNP arrays, demonstrating a memory window of 54 V, an on/off ratio of 3.8 × 10³, and endurance stability exceeding 110 write-read-erase-read cycles. These metrics significantly surpass those of conventional devices using block copolymer templates alone.
"The 54 V memory window is particularly impressive," noted Renhua Deng, professor at HUST and member of the Degree Evaluation Sub-committee at the School of Integrated Circuits. "This wide window ensures reliable data storage and reduces the risk of read errors. The high on/off ratio of nearly 4,000 further enhances the distinction between memory states."
The fabrication method offers several practical advantages. Dip-coating is industrially compatible and scalable, avoiding the complex equipment required for lithographic patterning. The process is rapid and produces uniform coatings over large areas, addressing a key bottleneck in nanopatterning technology.
Wen Li, professor at the Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays at NUPT, emphasized the broader implications: "This template-assisted approach is not limited to gold nanoparticles. The same strategy could be extended to other functional nanomaterials, including quantum dots, magnetic nanoparticles, or catalytic species, enabling diverse applications in optoelectronics, sensing, and energy storage."
The research team is now exploring the integration of these AuNP arrays with flexible substrates for wearable electronics and investigating their potential in neuromorphic computing architectures. The ability to precisely control nanoparticle spacing and density could prove valuable for mimicking synaptic behavior in artificial neural networks.
"Our ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between bottom-up self-assembly and top-down device fabrication," said Jintao Zhu. "By combining the inherent precision of molecular self-assembly with scalable processing techniques, we can realize functional nanomaterials that meet the stringent requirements of commercial electronics."
Other contributors include Changxu Liu, Haihong Chen, Shuai Deng, Wang Li, Xi Mao, and Mingdong Yi from HUST and NUPT.
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52293474 and 52322314).
DOI Link:
https://doi.org/10.26599/NR.2026.94908645
About Nano Research
Nano Research is a peer-reviewed, open access, international and interdisciplinary research journal, sponsored by Tsinghua University and the Chinese Chemical Society, published by Tsinghua University Press on the platform SciOpen. It publishes original high-quality research and significant review articles on all aspects of nanoscience and nanotechnology, ranging from basic aspects of the science of nanoscale materials to practical applications of such materials. After 18 years of development, it has become one of the most influential academic journals in the nano field. Nano Research has published more than 1,000 papers every year from 2022, with its cumulative count surpassing 8,000 articles. In 2025 InCites Journal Citation Reports, its 2025 IF is 9.4 (8.3, 5 years), and it continues to be the Q1 area among the four subject classifications. Nano Research Award, established by Nano Research together with TUP and Springer Nature in 2013, and Nano Research Young Innovators (NR45) Awards, established by Nano Research in 2018, have become international academic awards with global influence.
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