Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B, Vol.15, No.3, 548-553, 1997
Time Evolution of Nanocontact Structure Between Macroscopic Metallic Wires Leading to Nanowire Formation
Connections between two macroscopic metallic (gold, copper, silver, platinum, and tungsten) wires have been investigated by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that metallic contacts exist but do not break cleanly. They are stretched into many filaments or threads of nanometer size leading to nanowire formation as time passes.
Keywords:CONDUCTANCE QUANTIZATION;POINT CONTACTS