Electron Scattering and Electrical Conductance in Polycrystalline Metallic Films and Wires: Impact of Grain Boundary Scattering Related to Melting Point

Abstract

For electrical conductance in polycrystalline metallic films and wires, the reflection coefficient of electrons at grain boundaries is explored and found to be proportional to the square root of the melting points of metals. As validated by available experimental results, this exploration enables classical models to take an essential role in theoretically predicting the electrical conductance of low-dimensional metals. One thus sees that the mechanism dominating the suppression of electrical conductance is transformed from the surface scattering into the grain boundary scattering as the ratio of film thickness (or wire diameter) to grain size rises. Furthermore, the impact of grain boundary scattering becomes less important for metals with lower melting points.