Electrically conductive properties of Ag/Si composite nanoparticle assembled films prepared with a plasma–gas-condensation cluster source

Abstract

Ag1−x/Six composite nanoparticle assembled films were prepared using a plasma–gas-condensation cluster beam deposition apparatus. The electrical conductivity σ and Hall coefficient |RH| of Ag1−x/Six nanoparticle assembled films obey a power law of the volume fraction of Ag pAg. The marked change at around pAg = pc indicates that the percolation of Ag nanoparticles takes place at the threshold value pc. Moreover, we found that the |RH| at T = 5 K of the Ag1−x/Six nanoparticle assembled film with the closest pAg to pc is 20 times higher than that of the bulk Ag.