Designable electron transport features in one-dimensional arrays of metallic nanoparticles: Monte Carlo study of the relation between shape and transport

TL;DR

This study uses Monte Carlo simulations to explore how the shape and arrangement of metallic nanoparticles in a one-dimensional array influence electron transport and noise, revealing designable effects like negative differential conductance.

Contribution

It introduces a realistic, geometry-based model for electron transport in nanoparticle arrays, incorporating discrete spectra, phonon effects, and a self-adaptive Monte Carlo algorithm.

Findings

Geometry affects transport properties and noise.

Negative differential conductance can be engineered.

Discrete spectra influence current characteristics.

Abstract

We study the current and shot noise in a linear array of metallic nanoparticles taking explicitly into consideration their discrete electronic spectra. Phonon assisted tunneling and dissipative effects on single nanoparticles are incorporated as well. The capacitance matrix which determines the classical Coulomb interaction within the capacitance model is calculated numerically from a realistic geometry. A Monte Carlo algorithm which self-adapts to the size of the system allows us to simulate the single-electron transport properties within a semiclassical framework. We present several effects that are related to the geometry and the one-electron level spacing like e.g. a negative differential conductance (NDC) effect. Consequently these effects are designable by the choice of the size and arrangement of the nanoparticles.