Room-temperature and 50 GHz operation of a functional nanomaterial

We demonstrate an artificial electronic nanomaterial, constructed by arrang ement of nanometer-sized symmetry-breaking elements into a two-dimensional lattice. The material exhibits intrinsic nonlinear electronic functionality , and therefore functions also as a two-dimensional ratchet. We show that i ndividual devices can be made by simply cutting pieces from the material. W e also demonstrate that these devices operate at temperatures up to room te mperature and at frequencies at least up to 50 GHz. (C) 2001 American Insti tute of Physics.