Multishelled Gold Nanowires

TL;DR

This paper discusses the stability and structure of multishelled gold nanowires at the nanoscale, based on molecular dynamics simulations, with implications for their fabrication in electronic devices.

Contribution

It presents molecular dynamics simulation results showing stable multishelled structures of gold nanowires, aiding future fabrication techniques.

Findings

Gold nanowires can form stable multishelled structures

Simulations used a well-tested embedded atom potential

Results support development of fabrication methods

Abstract

The current miniaturization of electronic devices raises many questions about the properties of various materials at nanometre-scales. Recent molecular dynamics computer simulations have shown that small finite nanowires of gold exist as multishelled structures of lasting stability. These classical simulations are based on a well-tested embedded atom potential. Molecular dynamics simulation studies of metallic nanowires should help in developing methods for their fabrication, such as electron-beam litography and scanning tunneling microscopy.