Self-aligned placement of biologically synthesized Coulomb islands within nanogap electrodes for single electron transistor

Biological synthesis and self-aligned placement of a Coulomb island was demonstrated for single electron transistor (SET) fabrication using a cage-shaped protein, apoferritin. Homogenous ϕ7 nm Co3O4 and In oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized utilizing the apoferritin cavity as a spatially restricted chemical reaction chamber. Apoferritin accommodating a NP (Co3O4, In oxide) showed specific affinity to a Ti surface and self-aligned itself between a pair of Au/Ti nanogap electrodes. After the protein cage was eliminated, two tunnel junctions between the NP and each electrode had the same gap, thereby forming an ideal SET structure. The produced SET exhibited a Coulomb-staircase/oscillation at 4.2 K.