Solution preparation of Ge nanoparticles with chemically tailored surfaces

We have studied structural and electrical behavior of nanowires generated by mechanical elongation using in situ High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy and ultra-high-vacuum Mechanically Controllable Break Junction. It has been observed that the narrowest region of metal constriction is crystalline and defect-free. In particular, gold nanowires adopt only three types of atomic arrangement; a model correlating these three structures and the quantum conductance behavior is proposed, which showed a remarkable agreement with electrical transport measurements.