We report the fabrication of Ni2.7Mn0.9Ga0.4/InGaAs bilayers on GaAs (001)/InGaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. To form freestanding microtubes the bilayers have been released from the substrate by strain engineering. Microtubes with up to three windings have been successfully realized by tailoring the size and strain of the bilayer. The structure and magnetic properties of both, the initial films and the rolled-up microtubes, are investigated by electron microscopy, X-ray techniques and magnetization measurements. A tetragonal lattice with c/a = 2.03 (film) and c/a = 2.01 (tube) is identified for the Ni2.7Mn0.9Ga0.4 alloy. Furthermore, a significant influence of the cylindrical geometry and strain relaxation induced by roll-up on the magnetic properties of the tube is found. / Dieser Beitrag ist aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Over the past two decades, organic semiconductors played a growing part as active layers in several electronic systems such as sensors, field‑effect transistors or light emitting diodes to cite a few. In fact, organic materials offer a high versatility and flexibility. However, pure organic systems often lack stability and robustness, which can be overcome by combining them with inorganic scaffolds. In this work, a conducting polymer, polypyrrole (PPy) is employed to create new sensor elements based on the combination of both inorganic and organic layers. Electrical measurements, infrared spectroscopy and current sensing atomic force microscopy provides a better understanding of the polymer behavior upon immersion in aqueous solutions. The observed discharge in water leads to a straightforward application of the device as an in‑flow sensor for several acids like HCl, H2SO4 and H3PO4. The wide range of sensing concentrations as well as the low detection limit place the present detector among the best reported so far in the literature. In a further step to turn towards lab‑in‑a‑tube devices, tubular‑shaped‑integrated microelectrodes are developed by using the rolled‑up technology. As a proof of concept, the successful integration of PPy as an active layer and its use as a gas sensor for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is demonstrated. Finally, by adapting the rolled‑up top electrodes, as developed by Bof Bufon et al. for self‑assembled monolayers (SAMs), thin PPy films (<50 nm) are vertically contacted and their electrical characteristics measured as a function of temperature and electric field. From the transport investigations, it is observed that an insulating‑to‑metallic transition occurs in the polymeric film by increasing the bias voltage. Other molecular layers like CuPc can be incorporated in these platforms, opening the way towards emerging organic devices.

The combination of modern self-assembly techniques with well-established top-down processing methods pioneered in the electronics industry is paving the way for increasingly sophisticated devices in the future[1]. Nanomembranes, made from a variety of materials, can provide the necessary framework for a diverse range of device structures incorporating wrinkling, buckling, folding, and rolling of thin films[2, 3]. Over the past decade, an elegant symbiosis of bottom-up and top-down methods has been developed, allowing the fabrica- tion of hybrid layer systems via the controlled release and rearrangement of inherently strained layers [4]. Self-assembled rolled-up structures[4, 5] have become increasingly at- tractive in a number of fields including micro/nano uidics[6], optics[7](including metama- terial optical fibers[8]), Lab on a Chip applications[9], and micro- and nanoelectronics[10]. The use of such structures for microelectronic applications has been driven by the versatility in contacting geometries and the abundance of material combinations that these devices offer. By allowing devices to expand in the third dimension, certain obstacles that inhibit 2D structuring can be overcome in elegant ways. Similarly, recent progress in nanostructured superconducting electronic structures has been receiving increased attention[11]. The advancement of such devices has been mo- tivated by their use in quantum computation[12], high sensitivity radiation sensors[13], precision voltage standards[14] and superconducting spintronics[15] to name a few. Combining semiconductor with superconductor materials to create new hybrid geometries is advantageous because it adds the functionalities of the semiconductor, including high charge carrier mobilities, gating possibilities, and refined processing technologies. The main focus of the work presented in this thesis is the development of new methods for controlling strain behavior and its applications toward novel semiconduc- tor/superconductor heterostructures based on nanomembranes. More specifically, the goal is to integrate inherently strained semiconductor layer structures with superconducting materials to create innovative electronic devices by the controlled releasing and rearrangement of thin films. By rolling up pre-patterned semiconductor/superconductor layers, device geometries have been realized that are not feasible using any other technique. In this way, superconducting hybrid junctions, or Josephson junctions, have been created and their basic properties investigated. The Josephson effect, and junctions displaying this quantum coherent behavior, have found many essential uses in diverse areas of science and technology. Many research groups around the world are involved in finding new materials and fabrication methods to tune the properties and structure of such Josephson devices further[11]. The inclusion of semi- conductors, for example, allows for a greater control of the charge carrier density within the junction area, thus allowing for "transistor-like" behavior in these superconducting devices. By rolling up the superconductor contacts using a strained semiconductor as scaffolding, the fabrication of hybrid nano-junctions is simplified drastically, removing the need for complicated processing steps such as electron-beam or nano-imprint lithography. Furthermore, the technique allows many nanometer-sized devices to be created in parallel on a single chip which has the advantage that it can be scaled up to full-wafer processing. First, post-growth processing techniques of epitaxial layers are developed in order to extend the control of hybrid device fabrication. Here, three unique concepts for controlling the rolling behavior of strained semiconductor nanomembranes are presented. First an optical method for inhibiting the rolling of the strained layers is described. Next, a selective etching method for destroying the inherent strain within the semiconductor layer is introduced. Finally, a method by which the strain gradient across a trilayer stack is altered in situ during rolling is presented. Next, the fabrication of a hybrid nanomembrane-based superconducting device is presented. Various experimental details of the fabrication process are analyzed, and the electronic properties of the completed device are investigated. The devices created here highlight the fabrication process in which nanometer-sized structures are created using self-assembly techniques and standard microelectronics fabrication methods, presenting a new method to circumvent more complicated processing techniques. References [1] G. M. Whitesides and B. Grzybowski. Self-assembly at all scales. Science 295, 2418{2421 (2002). [2] Y. G. Sun, W. M. Choi, H. Q. Jiang, Y. G. Y. Huang and J. A. Rogers. Controlled buckling of semiconductor nanoribbons for stretchable electronics. Nature Nanotechnology 1, 201{207 (2006). [3] O. G. Schmidt and K. Eberl. Nanotechnology - Thin solid films roll up into nanotubes. Nature 410, 168 (2001). [4] O. G. Schmidt, C. Deneke, Y. Nakamura, R. Zapf-Gottwick, C. Mller and N. Y. Jin-Phillipp. Nanotechnology { Bottom-up meets top-down. Advanced Solid State Physics 42, 231 (2002). [5] V. Ya. Prinz, V. A. Seleznev, A. K. Gutakovsky, A. V. Chehovskiy, V. V. Preobrazhenskii, M. A. Putyato and T. A. Gavrilova. Free-standing and overgrown InGaAs/GaAs nanotubes, nanohelices and their arrays. Physica E 6, 828 (2000). [6] D. J. Thurmer, C. Deneke, Y. F. Mei and O. G. Schmidt. Process integration of microtubes for uidic applications. Applied Physics Letters 89, 223507 (2006). [7] R. Songmuang, A. Rastelli, S. Mendach and O. G. Schmidt. SiOx/Si radial superlattices and microtube optical ring resonators. Applied Physics Letters 90, 091905 (2007). [8] E. J. Smith, Z. W. Liu, Y. F. Mei and O. G. Schmidt. Combined surface plasmon and classical waveguiding through metamaterial fiber design. Nano Letters 10, 1{5 (2010). [9] G. S. Huang, Y. F. Mei, D. J. Thurmer, E. Coric and O. G. Schmidt. Rolled-up transparent microtubes as two-dimensionally confined culture scaffolds of individual yeast cells. Lab on a Chip 9, 263{268 (2009). [10] C. C. B. Bufon, J. D. C. Gonzalez, D. J. Thurmer, D. Grimm, M. Bauer and O. G. Schmidt. Self-assembled ultra-compact energy storage elements based on hybrid nanomembranes. Nano Letters 10, 2506{2510 (2010). [11] G. Katsaros, P. Spathis, M. Stoffel, F. Fournel, M. Mongillo, V. Bouchiat, F. Lefloch, A. Rastelli, O. G. Schmidt and S. De Franceschi. Hybrid superconductor-semiconductor devices made from self-assembled SiGe nanocrystals on silicon. Nature Nanotechnology 5, 458{464 (2010). [12] Y. J. Doh, J. A. van Dam, A. L. Roest, E. P. A. M. Bakkers, L. P. Kouwenhoven and S. De Franceschi. Tunable supercurrent through semiconductor nanowires. Science 309, 272{275 (2005). [13] F. Giazotto, T. T. Heikkila, G. P. Pepe, P. Helisto, A. Luukanen and J. P. Pekola. Ultrasensitive proximity Josephson sensor with kinetic inductance readout. Applied Physics Letters 92, 162507 (2008). [14] S. P. Benz. Superconductor-normal-superconductor junctions for programmable voltage standards. Applied Physics Letters 67, 2714{2716 (1995). [15] Y. C. Tao and J. G. Hu. Superconducting spintronics: Spin-polarized transport in superconducting junctions with ferromagnetic semiconducting contact. Journal of Applied Physics 107, 041101 (2010).

Li-O2 batteries have attracted world-wide research interest as an appealing candidate for future energy supplies because they possess the highest energy density of any battery technology. However, such system still face some challenges for the practical application. One of the key issues is exploring highly efficient cathode materials for Li-O2 batteries. Here, a rolled-up technology associated with other physical or chemical methods are applied to prepare architectural nanomembranes for the cathode materials in Li-O2 batteries. The strain-release technology has recently proven to be an efficient approach on the micro/nanoscale to fabricate composite nanomembranes with controlled thickness, versatile chemical composition and stacking sequence. This dissertation first focuses on the synthesis of trilayered Pd/MnOx/Pd nanomembranes. The incorporation of active Pd layers on both sides of the poor conductive MnOx layer commonly used in energy storage systems greatly enhances the conductivity and catalytic activity. Encouraged by this design, Pd nanoparticles functionalized MnOx-GeOy nanomembranes are also fabricated, which not only improve the conductivity but also facilitate the transport of Li+ and oxygen-containing species, thus greatly enhancing the performance of Li-O2 batteries. Similarly, Au and Pd arrays decorated MnOx nanomembranes act as bifunctional catalysts for both oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction in Li-O2 batteries. Moreover, by introducing hierarchical pores on the nanomembranes, the performance of Li-O2 batteries is further promoted by porous Pd/NiO nanomembranes. The macropores created by standard photolithography facilitate the rolling process and the nanopores in the nanomembranes induced by a novel template-free method supply fast channels for the reactants diffusion. In addition, a facile thermal treatment method is developed to fabricate Ag/NiO-Fe2O3/Ag hybrid nanomembranes as carbon-free cathode materials in Li-O2 batteries. A competing scheme between the intrinsic strain built in the oxide nanomembranes and an external driving force provided by the metal nanoparticles is introduced to tune the morphology of the 3D tubular architectures which greatly improve the performance by providing continuous tunnels for O2 and electrolyte diffusion and mitigating the side reactions produced by carbonaceous materials.

Li-O2 batteries have attracted world-wide research interest as an appealing candidate for future energy supplies because they possess the highest energy density of any battery technology. However, such system still face some challenges for the practical application. One of the key issues is exploring highly efficient cathode materials for Li-O2 batteries. Here, a rolled-up technology associated with other physical or chemical methods are applied to prepare architectural nanomembranes for the cathode materials in Li-O2 batteries. The strain-release technology has recently proven to be an efficient approach on the micro/nanoscale to fabricate composite nanomembranes with controlled thickness, versatile chemical composition and stacking sequence. This dissertation first focuses on the synthesis of trilayered Pd/MnOx/Pd nanomembranes. The incorporation of active Pd layers on both sides of the poor conductive MnOx layer commonly used in energy storage systems greatly enhances the conductivity and catalytic activity. Encouraged by this design, Pd nanoparticles functionalized MnOx-GeOy nanomembranes are also fabricated, which not only improve the conductivity but also facilitate the transport of Li+ and oxygen-containing species, thus greatly enhancing the performance of Li-O2 batteries. Similarly, Au and Pd arrays decorated MnOx nanomembranes act as bifunctional catalysts for both oxygen reduction reaction and oxygen evolution reaction in Li-O2 batteries. Moreover, by introducing hierarchical pores on the nanomembranes, the performance of Li-O2 batteries is further promoted by porous Pd/NiO nanomembranes. The macropores created by standard photolithography facilitate the rolling process and the nanopores in the nanomembranes induced by a novel template-free method supply fast channels for the reactants diffusion. In addition, a facile thermal treatment method is developed to fabricate Ag/NiO-Fe2O3/Ag hybrid nanomembranes as carbon-free cathode materials in Li-O2 batteries. A competing scheme between the intrinsic strain built in the oxide nanomembranes and an external driving force provided by the metal nanoparticles is introduced to tune the morphology of the 3D tubular architectures which greatly improve the performance by providing continuous tunnels for O2 and electrolyte diffusion and mitigating the side reactions produced by carbonaceous materials.

We report the fabrication of Ni2.7Mn0.9Ga0.4/InGaAs bilayers on GaAs (001)/InGaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. To form freestanding microtubes the bilayers have been released from the substrate by strain engineering. Microtubes with up to three windings have been successfully realized by tailoring the size and strain of the bilayer. The structure and magnetic properties of both, the initial films and the rolled-up microtubes, are investigated by electron microscopy, X-ray techniques and magnetization measurements. A tetragonal lattice with c/a = 2.03 (film) and c/a = 2.01 (tube) is identified for the Ni2.7Mn0.9Ga0.4 alloy. Furthermore, a significant influence of the cylindrical geometry and strain relaxation induced by roll-up on the magnetic properties of the tube is found. / Dieser Beitrag ist aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) have attracted considerable interest due to their wide range of applications, such as portable electronics, electric vehicles (EVs) and aerospace applications. Particularly, the emergence of a variety of nanostructured materials has driven the development of LIBs towards the next generation, which is featured with high specific energy and large power density. Herein, rolled-up nanotechnology is introduced for the design of strain-released materials as anodes of LIBs. Upon this approach, self-rolled nanostructures can be elegantly combined with different functional materials and form a tubular shape by relaxing the intrinsic strain, thus allowing for enhanced tolerance towards stress cracking. In addition, the hollow tube center efficiently facilitates electrolyte mass flow and accommodates volume variation during cycling. In this context, such structures are promising candidates for electrode materials of LIBs to potentially address their intrinsic issues. This work focuses on the development of superior structures of Si and SnO2 for LIBs based on the rolled-up nanotech. Specifically, Si is the most promising substitute for graphite anodes due to its abundance and high theoretical gravimetric capacity. Combined with the C material, a Si/C self-wound nanomembrane structure is firstly realized. Benefiting from a strain-released tubular shape, the bilayer self-rolled structures exhibit an enhanced electrochemical behavior over commercial Si microparticles. Remarkably, this behavior is further improved by introducing a double-sided carbon coating to form a C/Si/C self-rolled structure. With SnO2 as active material, an intriguing sandwich-stacked structure is studied. Furthermore, this novel structure, with a minimized strain energy due to strain release, exposes more active sites for the electrochemical reactions, and also provides additional channels for fast ion diffusion and electron transport. The electrochemical characterization and morphology evolution reveal the excellent cycling performance and stability of such structures.

In this work, stretchable magnetic sensorics is successfully established by combining metallic thin films revealing a giant magnetoresistance effect with elastomeric materials. Stretchability of the magnetic nanomembranes is achieved by specific morphologic features (e.g. wrinkles), which accommodate the applied tensile deformation while maintaining the electrical and magnetic integrity of the sensor device. The entire development, from the demonstration of the world-wide first elastically stretchable magnetic sensor to the realization of a technology platform for robust, ready-to-use elastic magnetoelectronics with fully strain invariant properties, is described. The prepared soft giant magnetoresistive devices exhibit the same sensing performance as on conventional rigid supports, but can be stretched uniaxially or biaxially reaching strains of up to 270% and endure over 1,000 stretching cycles without fatigue. The comprehensive magnetoelectrical characterization upon tensile deformation is correlated with in-depth structural investigations of the sensor morphology transitions during stretching. With their unique mechanical properties, the elastic magnetoresistive sensor elements readily conform to ubiquitous objects of arbitrary shapes including the human skin. This feature leads electronic skin systems beyond imitating the characteristics of its natural archetype and extends their cognition to static and dynamic magnetic fields that by no means can be perceived by human beings naturally. Various application fields of stretchable magnetoelectronics are proposed and realized throughout this work. The developed sensor platform can equip soft electronic systems with navigation, orientation, motion tracking and touchless control capabilities. A variety of novel technologies, like smart textiles, soft robotics and actuators, active medical implants and soft consumer electronics will benefit from these new magnetic functionalities.

The combination of modern self-assembly techniques with well-established top-down processing methods pioneered in the electronics industry is paving the way for increasingly sophisticated devices in the future[1]. Nanomembranes, made from a variety of materials, can provide the necessary framework for a diverse range of device structures incorporating wrinkling, buckling, folding, and rolling of thin films[2, 3]. Over the past decade, an elegant symbiosis of bottom-up and top-down methods has been developed, allowing the fabrica- tion of hybrid layer systems via the controlled release and rearrangement of inherently strained layers [4]. Self-assembled rolled-up structures[4, 5] have become increasingly at- tractive in a number of fields including micro/nano uidics[6], optics[7](including metama- terial optical fibers[8]), Lab on a Chip applications[9], and micro- and nanoelectronics[10]. The use of such structures for microelectronic applications has been driven by the versatility in contacting geometries and the abundance of material combinations that these devices offer. By allowing devices to expand in the third dimension, certain obstacles that inhibit 2D structuring can be overcome in elegant ways. Similarly, recent progress in nanostructured superconducting electronic structures has been receiving increased attention[11]. The advancement of such devices has been mo- tivated by their use in quantum computation[12], high sensitivity radiation sensors[13], precision voltage standards[14] and superconducting spintronics[15] to name a few. Combining semiconductor with superconductor materials to create new hybrid geometries is advantageous because it adds the functionalities of the semiconductor, including high charge carrier mobilities, gating possibilities, and refined processing technologies. The main focus of the work presented in this thesis is the development of new methods for controlling strain behavior and its applications toward novel semiconduc- tor/superconductor heterostructures based on nanomembranes. More specifically, the goal is to integrate inherently strained semiconductor layer structures with superconducting materials to create innovative electronic devices by the controlled releasing and rearrangement of thin films. By rolling up pre-patterned semiconductor/superconductor layers, device geometries have been realized that are not feasible using any other technique. In this way, superconducting hybrid junctions, or Josephson junctions, have been created and their basic properties investigated. The Josephson effect, and junctions displaying this quantum coherent behavior, have found many essential uses in diverse areas of science and technology. Many research groups around the world are involved in finding new materials and fabrication methods to tune the properties and structure of such Josephson devices further[11]. The inclusion of semi- conductors, for example, allows for a greater control of the charge carrier density within the junction area, thus allowing for "transistor-like" behavior in these superconducting devices. By rolling up the superconductor contacts using a strained semiconductor as scaffolding, the fabrication of hybrid nano-junctions is simplified drastically, removing the need for complicated processing steps such as electron-beam or nano-imprint lithography. Furthermore, the technique allows many nanometer-sized devices to be created in parallel on a single chip which has the advantage that it can be scaled up to full-wafer processing. First, post-growth processing techniques of epitaxial layers are developed in order to extend the control of hybrid device fabrication. Here, three unique concepts for controlling the rolling behavior of strained semiconductor nanomembranes are presented. First an optical method for inhibiting the rolling of the strained layers is described. Next, a selective etching method for destroying the inherent strain within the semiconductor layer is introduced. Finally, a method by which the strain gradient across a trilayer stack is altered in situ during rolling is presented. Next, the fabrication of a hybrid nanomembrane-based superconducting device is presented. Various experimental details of the fabrication process are analyzed, and the electronic properties of the completed device are investigated. The devices created here highlight the fabrication process in which nanometer-sized structures are created using self-assembly techniques and standard microelectronics fabrication methods, presenting a new method to circumvent more complicated processing techniques. References [1] G. M. Whitesides and B. Grzybowski. Self-assembly at all scales. Science 295, 2418{2421 (2002). [2] Y. G. Sun, W. M. Choi, H. Q. Jiang, Y. G. Y. Huang and J. A. Rogers. Controlled buckling of semiconductor nanoribbons for stretchable electronics. Nature Nanotechnology 1, 201{207 (2006). [3] O. G. Schmidt and K. Eberl. Nanotechnology - Thin solid films roll up into nanotubes. Nature 410, 168 (2001). [4] O. G. Schmidt, C. Deneke, Y. Nakamura, R. Zapf-Gottwick, C. Mller and N. Y. Jin-Phillipp. Nanotechnology { Bottom-up meets top-down. Advanced Solid State Physics 42, 231 (2002). [5] V. Ya. Prinz, V. A. Seleznev, A. K. Gutakovsky, A. V. Chehovskiy, V. V. Preobrazhenskii, M. A. Putyato and T. A. Gavrilova. Free-standing and overgrown InGaAs/GaAs nanotubes, nanohelices and their arrays. Physica E 6, 828 (2000). [6] D. J. Thurmer, C. Deneke, Y. F. Mei and O. G. Schmidt. Process integration of microtubes for uidic applications. Applied Physics Letters 89, 223507 (2006). [7] R. Songmuang, A. Rastelli, S. Mendach and O. G. Schmidt. SiOx/Si radial superlattices and microtube optical ring resonators. Applied Physics Letters 90, 091905 (2007). [8] E. J. Smith, Z. W. Liu, Y. F. Mei and O. G. Schmidt. Combined surface plasmon and classical waveguiding through metamaterial fiber design. Nano Letters 10, 1{5 (2010). [9] G. S. Huang, Y. F. Mei, D. J. Thurmer, E. Coric and O. G. Schmidt. Rolled-up transparent microtubes as two-dimensionally confined culture scaffolds of individual yeast cells. Lab on a Chip 9, 263{268 (2009). [10] C. C. B. Bufon, J. D. C. Gonzalez, D. J. Thurmer, D. Grimm, M. Bauer and O. G. Schmidt. Self-assembled ultra-compact energy storage elements based on hybrid nanomembranes. Nano Letters 10, 2506{2510 (2010). [11] G. Katsaros, P. Spathis, M. Stoffel, F. Fournel, M. Mongillo, V. Bouchiat, F. Lefloch, A. Rastelli, O. G. Schmidt and S. De Franceschi. Hybrid superconductor-semiconductor devices made from self-assembled SiGe nanocrystals on silicon. Nature Nanotechnology 5, 458{464 (2010). [12] Y. J. Doh, J. A. van Dam, A. L. Roest, E. P. A. M. Bakkers, L. P. Kouwenhoven and S. De Franceschi. Tunable supercurrent through semiconductor nanowires. Science 309, 272{275 (2005). [13] F. Giazotto, T. T. Heikkila, G. P. Pepe, P. Helisto, A. Luukanen and J. P. Pekola. Ultrasensitive proximity Josephson sensor with kinetic inductance readout. Applied Physics Letters 92, 162507 (2008). [14] S. P. Benz. Superconductor-normal-superconductor junctions for programmable voltage standards. Applied Physics Letters 67, 2714{2716 (1995). [15] Y. C. Tao and J. G. Hu. Superconducting spintronics: Spin-polarized transport in superconducting junctions with ferromagnetic semiconducting contact. Journal of Applied Physics 107, 041101 (2010).

Over the past two decades, organic semiconductors played a growing part as active layers in several electronic systems such as sensors, field‑effect transistors or light emitting diodes to cite a few. In fact, organic materials offer a high versatility and flexibility. However, pure organic systems often lack stability and robustness, which can be overcome by combining them with inorganic scaffolds. In this work, a conducting polymer, polypyrrole (PPy) is employed to create new sensor elements based on the combination of both inorganic and organic layers. Electrical measurements, infrared spectroscopy and current sensing atomic force microscopy provides a better understanding of the polymer behavior upon immersion in aqueous solutions. The observed discharge in water leads to a straightforward application of the device as an in‑flow sensor for several acids like HCl, H2SO4 and H3PO4. The wide range of sensing concentrations as well as the low detection limit place the present detector among the best reported so far in the literature. In a further step to turn towards lab‑in‑a‑tube devices, tubular‑shaped‑integrated microelectrodes are developed by using the rolled‑up technology. As a proof of concept, the successful integration of PPy as an active layer and its use as a gas sensor for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is demonstrated. Finally, by adapting the rolled‑up top electrodes, as developed by Bof Bufon et al. for self‑assembled monolayers (SAMs), thin PPy films (<50 nm) are vertically contacted and their electrical characteristics measured as a function of temperature and electric field. From the transport investigations, it is observed that an insulating‑to‑metallic transition occurs in the polymeric film by increasing the bias voltage. Other molecular layers like CuPc can be incorporated in these platforms, opening the way towards emerging organic devices.