title: Current induced surface diffusion on a single-crystalline silver nanowire.
abstract: Scanning tunnelling microscopy was used to study the morphological changes of the surface of a single-crystalline silver nanowire caused by a lateral electron current. At current densities of about 1.5 × 10(7) A cm(-2), surface atoms are extracted from step edges, resulting in the motion of surface steps, islands and holes with a thickness or depth of one monolayer. Upon current reversal the direction of the material transport can be altered. The findings are interpreted in terms of the wind force.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Physics, Centre for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen,  47048 Duisburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kaspers
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bernhart
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bobisch
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Möller
mesh_terms: D004058:Diffusion; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D008422:Materials Testing; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D012834:Silver