Towards molecular-scale electronics and biomolecular self-assembly

This paper provides an overview of recent research developments in the field of nanoelectronics with organic materials such as carbon nanotubes and DNA-templated nanowires. Carbon nanotubes and gold electrodes are chemically functionalized in order to contact carbon nanotubes by self-assembly. The transport properties of these nanotubes are dominated by charging effects and display clear Coulomb blockade behaviour. A different approach towards nanoscale electronics is based on the molecular recognition properties of biomolecules such as DNA. As an example, DNA is stretched between electrodes using a molecular combing technique. A two-step metallization procedure leads to the formation of highly conductive gold nanowires.     

Nearest-neighbor configuration in (GaIn)(NAs) probed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy

Ga(1-x)In(x)N(y)As(1-y) is a promising material system for the fabrication of inexpensive "last-mile" optoelectronic components. However, details of its atomic arrangement and the relationship to observed optical properties is not fully known. Particularly, a blueshift of emission wavelength is observed after annealing. In this work, we use x-ray absorption fine structure to study the chemical environment around N atoms in the material before and after annealing. We find that as-grown molecular beam epitaxy material consists of a nearly random distribution of atoms, while postannealed material shows segregation of In toward N. Ab initio simulations show that this short-range ordering creates a more thermodynamically stable alloy and is responsible for blueshifting the emission.     

Mean first passage time for a class of non-Markovian processes

We determine the probability distribution of the first passage time for a class of non-Markovian processes. This class contains, amongst others, the well-known continuous time random walk (CTRW), which is able to account for many properties of anomalous diffusion processes. In particular, we obtain the mean first passage time for CTRW processes with truncated power-law transition time distribution. Our treatment is based on the fact that the solutions of the non-Markovian master equation can be obtained via an integral transform from a Markovian Langevin process.     

Finite-Volume Fractional-Moment Criteria¶for Anderson Localization

A technically convenient signature of localization, exhibited by discrete operators with random potentials, is exponential decay of the fractional moments of the Green function within the appropriate energy ranges. Known implications include: spectral localization, absence of level repulsion, strong form of dynamical localization, and a related condition which plays a significant role in the quantization of the Hall conductance in two-dimensional Fermi gases. We present a family of finite-volume criteria which, under some mild restrictions on the distribution of the potential, cover the regime where the fractional moment decay condition holds. The constructive criteria permit to establish this condition at spectral band edges, provided there are sufficient “Lifshitz tail estimates” on the density of states. They are also used here to conclude that the fractional moment condition, and thus the other manifestations of localization, are valid throughout the regime covered by the “multiscale analysis”. In the converse direction, the analysis rules out fast power-law decay of the Green functions at mobility edges. Received: 21 October 1999 / Accepted: 31 March 2000 / Revised: 30 August 2001     

Insulator–metal transition in Mn-doped NaNbO3 induced by chemical and thermal treatment

The transition between insulator and metal conductor states, induced by oxygen non-stoichiometry, was studied for NaNbO₃ : Mn crystals. Conditions for an optimal reduction were determined on the basis of TGA tests. The temperature dependencies of the resistance measured on the macroscale showed that the transition from thermally activated to metallic features depends on the level of oxygen deficiency. The LC-AFM measurement exhibited non-homogeneous electric resistance on the nanoscale. We ascribed the local insulator–metal transition to changeover in the electronic state of the Nb ions occurring in filaments. The Mn dopant stabilised the induced oxygen non-stoichiometry and the metallic conduction down to room temperature.     

Kalorimetrische Messungen an Mischungen von Nichtelektrolyten, 1. Mitt.: Molwärme des Systems 1,2-Dibromäthan-Benzol

Zusammenfassung Es wird der Aufbau eines Kalorimeters zur Bestimmung der spezif. Wärme von Flüssigkeiten beschrieben. Die Messungen werden nach einem kontinuierlichen adiabatischen Aufheizverfahren durchgeführt. Der Fehler in der Molwärme beträgt ca. ±0,4%. Die Methode erlaubt auch innerhalb relativ kleiner Temperaturbereiche eine Aussage über die Temperaturabhängigkeit der Wärmekapazität.Die Molwärme des Systems 1,2-Dibromäthan-Benzol wird zwischen 24 und 29°C über den ganzen Konzentrationsbereich vermessen. Die Mischungen zeigen negative C _p-Werte mit unsymmetrischem Konzentrationsverlauf. Für höhere Temperaturen ist eine Zunahme der Symmetrie zu erwarten.

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A calorimeter has been described which serves to determine the heat capacities of liquids. In the measurements the calorimeter and the surroundings are heated continuously, so that adiabatic conditions prevail. The experimental error in the molar heat capacities is ca. ±0,4%. The method also permits the estimation of the temperature dependence of the heat capacities, even within relatively small temperature intervals.The molar heat capacity of the system 1,2-dibromoethane-benzene has been measured between 24° and 29°C for all concentrations. The C _p-values of the mixtures are negative and show an asymmetrical dependence on the concentration. For higher temperatures it is expected that the concentration dependence will become more nearly symmetrical.

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