Synthesis, characterization, and finite size effects on electrical transport of nanoribbons of the charge density wave conductor NbSe₃

Abstract

NbSe 3 exhibits remarkable anisotropy in most of its physical properties and has been a model system for studies of quasi-one-dimensional charge-density-wave (CDW) phenomena.Herein, we report the synthesis, characterization, and electrical transport of single-crystalline NbSe 3 nanoribbons by a facile one-step vapour transport process involving the transport of selenium powder onto a niobium foil substrate. Our investigations aid the understanding of the CDW nature of NbSe 3 and the growth process of the material. They also indicate that NbSe 3 nanoribbons have enhanced CDW properties compared to those of the bulk phase due to size confinement effects, thus expanding the search for new mesoscopic phenomena at the nanoscale level. Single nanoribbon measurements on the electrical resistance as a function of temperature show charge-density wave transitions at 59 K and 141 K. We also demonstrate significant enhancement in the depinning effect and sliding regimes mainly attributed to finite size effects.

Narrowband noise study of sliding charge density waves in NbSe3nanoribbons

“…For both CDW states, the same trend is observed: E T increases with decreasing sample size. This trend is consistent with previous studies [12,[16][17][18]. For bulk NbSe 3 , E T is typically lower for the lower CDW than the upper CDW [21].…”

“…High-purity NbSe 3 crystals with typical dimensions 1 μm×10 μm×1 cm initially grown by chemical vapor transport are thinned down by mechanical exfoliation using the Scotch tape method [1], and then deposited on a Si/SiO 2 substrate. Previous studies report preparation of NbSe 3 nanowires by ultrasonic cleaving [16], direct synthesis [17,18], or plasma etching [19]. We find that mechanical exfoliation is the most reliable method to prepare undamaged samples of NbSe 3 of different thicknesses having consistent impurity concentration.…”

Photodecoloration of Methyl Orange Solution Assisted by ZrS3 Powders

“…Zirconium trisulfide samples were synthesized from the elements in evacuated quartz ampules at different temperatures according to reaction which is rather common for synthesis of transition metal trichalcogenides [31,32]:…”

Non-monotonic resistance noise in the charge density wave pinned state in single nanoribbons of CDW conductor NbSe$_{3}$

“…We fabricated multi-terminal electrical devices from individual nanoribbons of single crystalline NbSe 3 using standard optical and/or electron beam lithography and metallization techniques. The growth and structural characterization of the nanowires were reported elsewhere [28] and the typical dimensions of the nanoribbons used in this study were 50 µm × 500 nm × 100 nm. Typically five gold contacts, which are 5 µm wide with a separation of 5 µm, were evaporated on top of a single nanoribbon thereby making good Ohmic contacts (see figure 1(c) for a typical device).…”