Abstract
Atomic-sized lead (Pb) contacts are deposited and dissolved in an electrochemical environment, and their transport properties are measured. Due to the electrochemical fabrication process, deformation-induced mechanical strain is largely avoided, and we obtain conductance histograms with sharply resolved, individual peaks. Charge transport calculations based on density-functional theory for various ideal Pb contact geometries are in good agreement with the experimental results. Depending on the atomic configuration, single-atom-wide contacts of one and the same metal yield very different conductance values. Show more
Publication status
publishedExternal links
Journal / series
Physical Review BVolume
Pages / Article No.
Publisher
American Physical SocietyOrganisational unit
03974 - Leuthold, Juerg / Leuthold, Juerg
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