Atomic scale switches based on self-assembled surface magic clusters

Atomic scale switches working at room temperature represent the ultimate level of device miniaturization. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we find a bistable switching between two mirror-symmetric configurations of self-assembled magic rare earth silicide clusters on the Si(111) 7 × 7 surface. D...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied physics letters 2018-06, Vol.112 (25)
Main Authors: Franz, Martin, Panosetti, Chiara, Große, Jan, Amrhein, Tim, Reuter, Karsten, Dähne, Mario
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied physics
Clusters
Configurations
Density functional theory
Intermetallic compounds
Miniaturization
Rare earth elements
Self-assembly
Silicides
Silicon
Switches
Switching
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Summary:Atomic scale switches working at room temperature represent the ultimate level of device miniaturization. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we find a bistable switching between two mirror-symmetric configurations of self-assembled magic rare earth silicide clusters on the Si(111) 7 × 7 surface. Density functional theory reveals an energy barrier of 1.3 eV between the two cluster configurations, suppressing the switching even at room temperature. However, intentional switching between the two states is possible in the presence of a close tunneling tip due to a tip-induced lowering of the energy barrier.
ISSN:0003-6951
1077-3118
DOI:10.1063/1.5036946