Electron transport in the granular amorphous carbon films with cobalt nanoparticles

The temperature dependence of electric conductivity was studied in a granul ar amorphous carbon containing cobalt nanoparticles at an overall cobalt co ncentration below the percolation threshold. It was established that the el ectron transport in this structure is determined by the inelastic resonance electron tunneling via localized states, which are situated in the dielect ric carbon matrix between isolated conducting metal clusters. The number of the localized states is determined as a function of the cobalt concentrati on in the composite. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".