Single and many-electron phenomena in semiconductor and metal nanostructures studied by scanning tunneling microscopy
This dissertation deals with experimental studies of single and many-electron phenomena observed in semiconductor and metal nanostructures. The author has observed correlated single electron tunneling in a system consisting of an oxidized silicon tip and graphite sample. The results reveal quantization in the tunneling current. It is observed as steps in the current-voltage characteristic and is explained by Coulomb blockade of single electrons trapped in the oxide layer. Photon emission induced by electronic excitation of the surface plasmons on a granular gold surface was also investigated. Nano-granular thin films were produced by vapor deposition of gold on mica. Scanning tunneling microscopy showed that small particles had formed after deposition with an average size of about 25 nm. The author measured the intensity of light emission as a function of the applied bias voltage and observed resonance peaks at 1.9 V and 2.7 V. Elastic electron tunneling mechanism allows the assignment of these peaks to the local and the extended plasmons of the granular gold surface. The author has observed nanogranular gold surfaces with particles arranged in various ways. Arrangements in a close packed lattice and in a [open quote]herringbone[close quote] pattern are shown. Such configurations indicate particle-particle interactions that mirror atomic interactions in producing both the lattice and its surface reconstruction. Analogous to the case of atoms, these interactions are also believed to be mediated via electrons. By annealing, the author has observed the transformation of a surface consisting of nearly spherical particles into nanosized crystals with flat top facets and hexagonal shapes.
- Research Organization:
- Hawaii Univ., Honolulu, HI (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 7016950
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
GOLD
ELECTRO-OPTICAL EFFECTS
TUNNEL EFFECT
GRAPHITE
SILICON
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
MICROSCOPY
MICROSTRUCTURE
PHOTON EMISSION
PLASMONS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
CARBON
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
QUASI PARTICLES
SEMIMETALS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
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360104 - Metals & Alloys- Physical Properties
665400 - Quantum Physics Aspects of Condensed Matter- (1992-)