Current-voltage  curves of atomic-sized transition  metal contacts: An explanation of why Au is ohmic and Pt is not

S.K. Nielsen; Mads Brandbyge; K. Hansen; Kurt Stokbro; J.M. van Ruitenbeek; Flemming Besenbacher

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.066804

Current-voltage curves of atomic-sized transition metal contacts: An explanation of why Au is ohmic and Pt is not

S.K. Nielsen, Mads Brandbyge, K. Hansen, Kurt Stokbro, J.M. van Ruitenbeek, Flemming Besenbacher

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

We present an experimental study of current-voltage (I-V) curves on atomic-sized Au and Pt contacts formed under cryogenic vacuum (4.2 K). Whereas I-V curves for Au are almost Ohmic, the conductance G=I/V for Pt decreases with increasing voltage, resulting in distinct nonlinear I-V behavior. The experimental results are compared with first principles density functional theory calculations for Au and Pt, and good agreement is found. The difference in conductance properties for Pt vs Au can be explained by the underlying electron valence structure: Pt has an open d shell while Au has not.

Original language	English
Journal	Physical Review Letters
Volume	89
Issue number	6
Pages (from-to)	066804
ISSN	0031-9007
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.066804
Publication status	Published - 2002

Bibliographical note

Copyright (2002) American Physical Society

Keywords

FLUCTUATIONS
NANOCONTACTS
SIGNATURE
NANOWIRES
QUANTUM POINT CONTACTS
BIAS
GOLD CONTACTS
TRANSMISSION
CONDUCTANCE QUANTIZATION

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Cite this

Nielsen, S. K., Brandbyge, M., Hansen, K., Stokbro, K., van Ruitenbeek, J. M., & Besenbacher, F. (2002). Current-voltage curves of atomic-sized transition metal contacts: An explanation of why Au is ohmic and Pt is not. Physical Review Letters, 89(6), 066804. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.066804

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title = "Current-voltage curves of atomic-sized transition metal contacts: An explanation of why Au is ohmic and Pt is not",

abstract = "We present an experimental study of current-voltage (I-V) curves on atomic-sized Au and Pt contacts formed under cryogenic vacuum (4.2 K). Whereas I-V curves for Au are almost Ohmic, the conductance G=I/V for Pt decreases with increasing voltage, resulting in distinct nonlinear I-V behavior. The experimental results are compared with first principles density functional theory calculations for Au and Pt, and good agreement is found. The difference in conductance properties for Pt vs Au can be explained by the underlying electron valence structure: Pt has an open d shell while Au has not.",

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author = "S.K. Nielsen and Mads Brandbyge and K. Hansen and Kurt Stokbro and {van Ruitenbeek}, J.M. and Flemming Besenbacher",

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Current-voltage curves of atomic-sized transition metal contacts: An explanation of why Au is ohmic and Pt is not. / Nielsen, S.K.; Brandbyge, Mads; Hansen, K.; Stokbro, Kurt; van Ruitenbeek, J.M.; Besenbacher, Flemming.

In: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 89, No. 6, 2002, p. 066804.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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T1 - Current-voltage curves of atomic-sized transition metal contacts: An explanation of why Au is ohmic and Pt is not

AU - Nielsen, S.K.

AU - Brandbyge, Mads

AU - Hansen, K.

AU - Stokbro, Kurt

AU - van Ruitenbeek, J.M.

AU - Besenbacher, Flemming

N1 - Copyright (2002) American Physical Society

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - We present an experimental study of current-voltage (I-V) curves on atomic-sized Au and Pt contacts formed under cryogenic vacuum (4.2 K). Whereas I-V curves for Au are almost Ohmic, the conductance G=I/V for Pt decreases with increasing voltage, resulting in distinct nonlinear I-V behavior. The experimental results are compared with first principles density functional theory calculations for Au and Pt, and good agreement is found. The difference in conductance properties for Pt vs Au can be explained by the underlying electron valence structure: Pt has an open d shell while Au has not.

AB - We present an experimental study of current-voltage (I-V) curves on atomic-sized Au and Pt contacts formed under cryogenic vacuum (4.2 K). Whereas I-V curves for Au are almost Ohmic, the conductance G=I/V for Pt decreases with increasing voltage, resulting in distinct nonlinear I-V behavior. The experimental results are compared with first principles density functional theory calculations for Au and Pt, and good agreement is found. The difference in conductance properties for Pt vs Au can be explained by the underlying electron valence structure: Pt has an open d shell while Au has not.

KW - FLUCTUATIONS

KW - NANOCONTACTS

KW - SIGNATURE

KW - NANOWIRES

KW - QUANTUM POINT CONTACTS

KW - BIAS

KW - GOLD CONTACTS

KW - TRANSMISSION

KW - CONDUCTANCE QUANTIZATION

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.066804

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.066804

M3 - Journal article

VL - 89

SP - 066804

JO - Physical Review Letters

JF - Physical Review Letters

SN - 0031-9007

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