Figure 1: Theoretical size and surface scattering effect of metallic nanowires. | Nature Communications

Figure 1: Theoretical size and surface scattering effect of metallic nanowires.

From: An on-chip electrical transport spectroscopy approach for in situ monitoring electrochemical interfaces

Figure 1

Black squares (for p=0) and circles (for p=1/2) depict the size dependence of the resistivity for one-dimensional cylindrical metallic nanowires. The resistivity (over bulk metal resistivity) increases markedly when the nanowire diameter approaches to the electron mean free path. Triangles depict the size dependence of surface scattering induced conductivity response. The relative conductivity change upon adsorption (which induces surface scattering and causes changes in p value) increases markedly when the nanowire diameter approaches to the corresponding electron mean free path. ρ(σ), resistivity (conductivity) of the metal thin wire; ρ0, resistivity of the bulk metal; d, diameter of the metal thin wire; λ, mean free path of the conduction electrons; p, portion of electrons specularly reflected on the metal surface.

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