Quantum mechanical single-gold-nanocluster electroluminescent light source at room temperature

Electrically contacted gold-nanocluster arrays formed within electromigration-induced break junctions exhibit bright, field-dependent electroluminescence in the near infrared (650-800 nm). Intensity autocorrelation of spatially isolated individual nanocluster emission driven at high electrical frequency (f(ac)=similar to200 MHz) reveals antibunched electroluminescence at room temperature. These results demonstrate the single quantum nature of several-atom gold molecules and suggest their use as room-temperature electrically driven single-photon sources.