Quantized Conductance and Switching in Percolating Nanoparticle Films

TL;DR

This paper reports room-temperature switching and quantized conductance in nanoparticle films caused by atomic-scale wire formation in tunnel gaps near the percolation threshold.

Contribution

It demonstrates the occurrence of quantized conductance and switching in nanoparticle films at room temperature, linking these effects to atomic wire formation in tunnel gaps.

Findings

Switching behavior observed at room temperature.

Quantized conductance occurs in films with tunnel gaps.

Effects are linked to atomic-scale wire formation.

Abstract

We demonstrate switching behavior and quantized conductance at room temperature in percolating films of nanoparticles. Our experiments and complementary simulations show that switching and quantization result from formation of atomic scale wires in gaps between particles. These effects occur only when tunnel gaps are present in the film, close to the percolation threshold.