PROPERTIES OF METALLIC NANOWIRES - FROM CONDUCTANCE QUANTIZATION TO LOCALIZATION

Material structures of reduced dimensions exhibit electrical and mecha nical properties different from those in the bulk. Measurements of roo m-temperature electronic transport in pulled metallic nanowires are pr esented, demonstrating that the conductance characteristics depend on the length, lateral dimensions, state and degree of disorder, and elon gation mechanism of the wire. Conductance during the elongation of sho rt wires (length l similar to 50 angstroms) exhibits periodic quantiza tion steps with characteristic dips, correlating with the order-disord er states of layers of atoms in the wire predicted by molecular dynami cs simulations. The resistance R of wires as long as l similar to 400 angstroms exhibits localization characteristics with In R(l) similar t o l(2).