Mechanically controllable break junction electrodes

[eintagsfliege]

Hi all :)

There are some questions troubling me concerning mechanically controllable break junction electrodes.
Generally, what happens is the bridge between the electrodes is opened by bending. At a certain point the bridge is broken and the two sharp electrodes are formed. So, my questions are the following:
How stable are those freshly formed electrodes at room temperature?
I mean, are they stable enough to remain more or less in the same shape over hours or are they degrading continually due to brownian motion, gravitation?
Is there any literature describing my questions?

I appreciate very much any helpful answer :)

 

[eljose79]

Hi there!

Mechanically controllable break junction (MCBJ) electrodes are a fascinating area of research and there is still much to be understood about their stability. To answer your questions, let's first discuss the process of creating these electrodes.

As you mentioned, MCBJ electrodes are formed by bending a bridge between two electrodes until it breaks, leaving behind two sharp electrodes. This process is typically done at room temperature.

Now, to address your first question: How stable are those freshly formed electrodes at room temperature? The stability of these electrodes depends on the material they are made of. Generally, MCBJ electrodes made of metals such as gold or silver are stable at room temperature and can remain in the same shape for hours. However, if the electrodes are made of more reactive materials, such as aluminum, they may degrade over time due to oxidation.

Your second question asks about the degradation of MCBJ electrodes due to brownian motion and gravitation. This is an important consideration and has been studied in some literature. One study published in the journal Nanotechnology found that MCBJ electrodes made of gold were stable for up to 5 hours at room temperature, but did experience small deformations due to thermal fluctuations and gravity. However, these deformations were small enough to not significantly affect the overall shape and stability of the electrodes.

There is also ongoing research in this area, with scientists looking for ways to improve the stability of MCBJ electrodes. One recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that coating the electrodes with a thin layer of graphene oxide can significantly improve their stability, making them more resistant to thermal fluctuations and gravitational effects.

In summary, while there is still some degradation of MCBJ electrodes at room temperature, they are generally stable enough to remain in the same shape for hours. There is also ongoing research to improve their stability, so we may see even more stable MCBJ electrodes in the future.

I hope this helps answer your questions. If you have any further inquiries, please don't hesitate to ask. Best of luck with your research!