Electroless methods for molecular doping of gold thin films

We developed electroless-based methods for entrapping molecules within gold thin films, molecule@Au. These doping procedures extend the potential library electroless formed films much beyond its classical application of pure metals. A detailed study shows that adsorption on gold films and entrapment within it provide distinctly different modified thin films. Significantly, molecules that cannot be adsorbed, do form an organic-metallic hybrid by the developed entrapment processes. We also report on the ability to observe enhanced Raman and fluorescence spectra from the dopant molecules within the gold thin films.