Room-Temperature Single-Electron Charging Detected by Electrostatic Force Microscopy

We use atomic force microscopy to measure electron addition spectra of individual Au nanoparticles that exhibit Coulomb blockade at room temperature. The cantilever tip charges individual nanoparticles supported on an ultra-thin NaCl film via single-electron tunneling from the metal back electrode. The tunneling is detected by measuring frequency shift and damping of the oscillating cantilever. Finite element electrostatic calculations indicate that the total nanoparticle capacitance is dominated by mutual capacitance to the back electrode.