Nanogap electrodes for molecular electronics and biosensing

Singlemolecule experiments have been attracting interest since they can pave the way towards the realization of new molecular devices and biosensors. Molecular electronics could be an alternative to classical electronics to overcome the technologic dimensional limit of CMOS technology. On the other hand, biosensor downscaling can open to new detection techniques that are impossible at the conventional dimensional scale. Nowadays, single molecule experiments are mainly based on scanning probe techniques to manipulate and characterize molecules at the nanoscale. Although these techniques have revealed effective tools, real applications are restricted by problems of miniaturization, cost, integration and portability. Nanogap electrodes are an emerging new probing tool for single molecule experiments that can serve a function equivalent to classical probing systems, but guaranteing the integration and portability required in real applications. For these reasons, nanogap electrodes are the object of this thesis, from the fabrication to their employment in molecular electronics and biosensing.