title: Synthesis and electrical characterization of silver nanobeams.
abstract: By slowing the rate of atomic addition to singly twinned seeds, we have grown silver nanobeams with lengths of 3-30 mum, widths ranging from 17 to 70 nm, and a width to thickness ratio of 1.4. The well-defined dimensions, smooth surface, and crystallinity of nanobeams make them promising candidates for studying the effects of size on electron transport. With a simple method that allows rapid characterization of single nanobeams, we find that even the thinnest nanobeams largely retain the low resistivity of bulk silver. Nanobeams can support remarkably high current densities of up to 2.6 x 10(8) A cm(-2) before the conduction path is broken by the formation of a nanogap.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Chemical Engineering, Physics, and Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wiley
authors.forename: Zenghui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yadong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Cobden
authors.forename: Younan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012834:Silver