Self-assembled chains of graphitized carbon nanoparticles

We report a technique which allows self-assembly of conducting nanoparticle s into long continuous chains. Transport properties of such chains have bee n studied at low temperatures. At low bias voltages, the charges are pinned and the chain resistance is exponentially high. Above a certain threshold V-T, the system enters a conducting state. The threshold voltage is much bi gger than the Coulomb gap voltage for a single particle and decreases linea rly with increasing temperature. A sharp threshold was observed up to about 77 K. Such chains may be used as switchable links in Coulomb charge memori es. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)03418-X].