Quantum transport in metallic nanowires fabricated by electrochemical deposition/dissolution

A nonmechanical method for fabricating a metallic narrow constriction between two electrodes using electrochemical deposition is described. The width of the constriction can be adjusted by slowly dissolving metal atoms away or redepositing atoms onto the constriction which can be controlled flexibly by the electrodes’ potentials. Well-defined plateaus near the integer numbers of the conductance quantum have been observed in these constrictions at room temperature. Since no mechanical movements are involved, this method has the potential of fabricating nanoconstrictions with long term stability.