Charge transport in nanocrystal wires created by direct electron beam writing

The authors report the fabrication and electrical characterisation of nanowires created via direct electron beam writing in films of passivated gold nanocrystals. Charge transport measurements yield room temperature resistances in the range 10⁵-10⁸ . Variable temperature measurements yield two distinct sets of characteristics: activated conduction (high resistance) consistent with weakly coupled metal nanocrystals separated by alkyl thiol tunnel barriers and quasi-localised behaviour (low resistance) consistent with stronger coupling between granular metallic islands in a carbonaceous matrix. The data indicate that electron beam writing is a promising method for local manipulation of inter-nanocrystal coupling in nanocrystal arrays.