CALCULATION OF CONDUCTANCE AND I-V CHARACTERISTICS IN A 1-D MODEL OF A NANOWIRE

D. A. LOVEY, R. H. ROMERO

Bariloche

Workshop; WORKSHOP ON THE "PHYSICS OF NANOSTRUCTURES AND NANOMATERIALS"; 2007

Conduction through molecules bonded to macroscopic metalic leads has become a topic of current interest. In this work we study a simplified model of a one-dimensional atomic wire, the atomic potentials being simulated by delta-like potentials. The I-V characteristics and conductance are obtained by means of the Landauer formula. The model reproduces the non-linear variation of the current with the variations of the applied voltage. The electronic transmission through the potential profile along the nanowire is studied with the quantum transmission coefficient obtained within the transfer-matrix approach. In the case of linear potential profiles, the current reaches a saturation value, in qualitative agreement with calculations based on first-principles methods.