Gold nanowires were patterned with e-beam lithography and fabricated with a gold film deposited by e-beam evaporation. Carbon and oxygen contaminants were found to be present mostly on the gold surface with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Slight carbon contamination was indicated through the film thickness. Dimensions of the nanowires were measured with scanning electron microscopy, and the resistance of the wires was measured with a 2-probe stage at a low vacuum. Non-linear current-voltage curves were obtained, which was attributed to Joule heating. Further analysis, by restricting the bias voltage in a small range and negligible Joule heating, suggests that surface contamination can significantly affect the resistivity measurements of gold nanowires.

Volume Subject Area:
Electronic and Photonic Packaging
Topics:
Contamination, Electrical resistivity, Nanowires, Carbon, Cathode rays, Electron beams, Heating, Joules, Dimensions, Evaporation, Film thickness, Lithography, Oxygen, Photoelectron spectroscopy, Probes, Scanning electron microscopy, Vacuum, Wire, X-rays
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