Transport processes in metal-insulator granular layers

Y. G. Pogorelov, H. G. Silva, and J. F. Polido
Phys. Rev. B 83, 115429 – Published 15 March 2011

Abstract

Tunnel transport processes are considered in a square lattice of metallic nanogranules embedded into insulating host to model tunnel conduction in real metal/insulator granular layers. Based on a simple model with three possible charging states (± or 0) of a granule and three kinetic processes (creation or recombination of a ± pair, and charge transfer) between neighbor granules, the mean-field kinetic theory is developed. It describes the interplay between charging energy and temperature and between the applied electric field and the Coulomb fields by the noncompensated charge density. The resulting charge and current distributions are found to essentially differ in the free area (FA), between the metallic contacts, or in the contact areas (CA) beneath those contacts. Thus, the steady-state dc transport is compatible only with zero charge density and ohmic resistivity in FA, but charge accumulation and nonohmic behavior are necessary for conduction over CA. The approximate analytic solutions are obtained for characteristic regimes (low or high charge density) of such conduction. The comparison is done with the measurement data on tunnel transport in related experimental systems.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
4 More
  • Received 22 September 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.83.115429

©2011 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Y. G. Pogorelov1, H. G. Silva2, and J. F. Polido3

  • 1IFIMUP and IN-Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
  • 2Geophysical Centre of Évora and Physics Department, ECT, University of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal
  • 3Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Station 1, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 83, Iss. 11 — 15 March 2011

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×