Electron Propagation along Cu Nanowires Supported on a Cu(111) Surface

• Published in: Nano letters Vol. 8; no. 9; pp. 2712 - 2717
• Main Authors: Díaz-Tendero, Sergio, Fölsch, Stefan, Olsson, Fredrik E, Borisov, Andrey G, Gauyacq, Jean-Pierre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 01.09.2008
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electron states and collective excitations in thin films, multilayers, quantum wells, mesoscopic and nanoscale systems; Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Materials science; Molecular electronics, nanoelectronics; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Physics; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Lifetime; Electronic properties; Energy dispersion; Electron state; Theoretical study; Nanowires; Copper; Excited states; Experimental study; Nanostructured materials; Nanoelectronics
• DOI: 10.1021/nl801045b
• ISSN: 1530-6984; 1530-6992

We present a joint experimental−theoretical study of the one-dimensional band of excited electronic states with sp character localized on Cu nanowires supported on a Cu(111) surface. Energy dispersion and lifetime of these states have been obtained, allowing the determination of the mean distance traveled by an excited electron along the nanowire before it escapes into the substrate. We show that a Cu nanowire supported on a Cu(111) surface can guide a one-dimensional electron flux over a short distance and thus can be considered as a possible component for nanoelectronics devices.