Charge Transport in Cellular Nanoparticle Networks: Meandering through Nanoscale Mazes

Abstract

The transport of electrons through topologically complex two-dimensional Au nanoparticle networks has been investigated using a combination of low temperature (4.5 K) direct current I(V) measurements and numerical simulations. Intricate, spatially correlated nanostructured networks were formed via spin-casting. The topological complexity of the nanoparticle assemblies produces I(V) curves associated with nonlinearity exponents, zeta approximately 4.0. Simulations based on tunneling transport in sparse and inhomogeneous planar networks are used to elucidate the influence of topology on the value of zeta.