Rectification of current for tunneling through metallic nano-particles.

Double tunnel barrier structures were obtained by using a scanning tunneling microscope and samples composed of metallic nanoparticles deposited onto an oxidized bottom electrode. The nanoparticles were formed by evaporating subpercolation thin metallic layers. Due to the small size of the particles their energy spectrum is discrete, which is evidenced by the measured quantized current-voltage characteristics. Current rectification ratios of 100–1000 for tunneling through such quantum dots are demonstrated at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]