Quantized conductance in AuAg nanocontacts under high biases

Quantized conductance in AuAg alloy nanocontact has been investigated at room temperature for bias voltages ranging from 200 to 1000 mV and for Ag concentrations up to 88 at.%. Clear 1G0 conductance peak was observed in conductance histograms of Au–31at.%Ag, which exhibits similar bias dependence to that of Au. For biases higher than 400 mV, the 1G0 peak of Au–31at.%Ag systematically surpasses that of Au, suggesting the reinforcement of 1G0 contacts of Au by dilute Ag alloying.