Experimental study of space-charge-limited flows in a nanogap

Abstract

An experimental investigation of space-charge-limited flow of current in a nanogap is presented. Electrodes with gap size d∼70–110nm corresponding to d∕λ0∼(1−5)×103, where λ0 is the de Broglie wavelength of the space-charge electrons are experimented. Unlike classical Child–Langmuir’s (CL) law, the current density varies as square root of applied voltage (V1∕2), when d becomes comparable to λ0. Additionally, a transition regime has been found for the 90nm gap size where the CL law appears at voltages >45V. At d=110nm, the system is found to exhibit purely classical behavior.