AUTHOR=Schneider Wolf-Dieter 

TITLE=Coulomb blockade phenomena observed in supported metallic nanoislands

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physics

VOLUME=1

YEAR=2013

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physics/articles/10.3389/fphy.2013.00013

DOI=10.3389/fphy.2013.00013

ISSN=2296-424X

ABSTRACT=<p>The electron transport properties of single crystalline metallic nanostructures in the Coulomb blockade (CB) regime have been investigated by low-temperature scanning tunneling spectroscopy. To this end, nanoscale flat-top Pb islands with well-defined geometries are grown on NaCl-covered Ag(111) substrates. The tunneling spectra acquired at 4.6 K on the Pb nanoislands reflect the presence of single electron tunneling processes across the double-barrier tunnel junction (DBTJ). By a controlled change of the tip-island tunnel distance, the spectra display the characteristic evolution from CB to Coulomb staircase (CS) regime. Simulations within the semi-classical orthodox theory allow us to extract quantitatively the parameters characterizing the DBTJ, i.e., the resistances, capacitances, and the residual charge <italic>Q</italic><sub>0</sub>. Manipulation of <italic>Q</italic><sub>0</sub> is achieved by controlled application of voltage pulses on the Pb islands. Moreover, under specific tunneling conditions, the influence of the tip-island junction on <italic>Q</italic><sub>0</sub> is revealed in topographic images of the Pb islands.</p>