Abstract
After making a cold weld by pressing two clean metal surfaces together and then gradually separating the two pieces, a metallic nanowire is formed, which progressively thins down to a single atom before the contact is lost. We show evidence that the radii of such nanowires are influenced by electronic shell filling effects, in analogy to electronic shell structure in metal clusters. A modulation of the shell effect, known as supershell structure, is clearly observed. For sodium and potassium at larger diameters there is a crossover to crystalline facets with shell-closings corresponding to the completion of an additional atomic layer. We conclude that a complete analogy exists between shell structure in metallic clusters and nanowires.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
